 BEREA -- Romeo Crennel wants to use the next five games to assess Charlie Frye so he can determine whether the Browns need to find another quarterback in free agency or the 2006 draft. Frye could get his first NFL start Sunday against the Jaguars because of an injury to Trent Dilfer. Frye, the third-round rookie from Akron, has played in only four series and thrown 12 passes, all in the last two weeks. He seems unfazed by the opportunity.
''I come to work every day,'' Frye said. ''A lot of guys do that. I just want to be ready if T.D. can't go. I'm the backup, but if he can't go I have to go out there and not miss a beat.''
MRI testing on both of Dilfer's knees Monday revealed tendinitis in his right knee, Crennel said yesterday. A half-hour later in the locker room Dilfer hinted the injury is more severe, but he refused to give details. He was sacked five times last week against the Vikings, and, on one play that wasn't a sack, he was squashed by Vikings defensive tackle Darrion Scott and Browns left tackle L.J. Shelton. They weigh a combined 634 pounds, not counting equipment.
Dilfer said he felt a sharp pain when he stood.
''I've had tendinitis in this knee for a while,'' Dilfer said yesterday. ''There are different severities of tendinitis. This is a little bit more than that.
''I'll do everything in my power to play. I'm not going to let pain or injuries get in the way of fulfilling my commitment to (his teammates). Now, if it gets to the point where I can't produce at a level that helps them, then you put your ego on the back burner and let somebody else do it.''
Dilfer did not practice yesterday, so Frye took virtually every snap with the starters, the first time he has done that. Crennel still plans to use Dilfer if Dilfer can practice by tomorrow, but even if Dilfer does start, Frye is likely to play more against the Jaguars and in the final four games than he has played so far. He did not play in the first nine games.
Crennel gave an analogy to explain his rationale.
''You can drive with your wife who's been driving for say 10 years, or you can drive with your daughter who hasn't driven before,'' he said. ''Who are you going to choose?''
He participated in 20 plays against the Dolphins over three series -- one in the second quarter and two in the fourth -- and one play resulting in an interception against the Vikings.
''I think there are enough games left that we can have a pretty decent idea what he can do in a game,'' Crennel said. ''If we leave out of here this year not knowing what he could do, it would hurt us going into the draft and free agency on whether we need to use (scouting and meeting) time or a pick on a quarterback.
''The danger of not getting him playing time is you might have to get him in in preseason and get him in games next year. If you find out then he's not the answer and you don't have anybody else in place, you take a couple steps back.''
Frye should expect to see the Jaguars blitz early and often if he does play, Crennel said. Dilfer said Frye is ready and so did Frye's buddy, rookie wide receiver Braylon Edwards.
Frye's most notable game with the Browns was in the preseason against the Bears when he completed 12-of-14 passes for 186 yards as a surprise starter in a 16-6 victory. That game is part of Crennel's evaluation of Frye, but Crennel warned regular season games are different, drawing an analogy to war games and actual combat.
''Charlie's ready to play,'' Dilfer said. ''The kid has moxie, which might be the most important thing you have to have at this point. He's highly competitive, which will help. And we're not overly complex that he has to do a lot at the line of scrimmage.
''We can win with Charlie if we have to. It might come down to that.''
Dilfer started all 11 games this season. He has not played a full 16-game season since 1998. LINK / READ MORE
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