The exchange in Berea on Monday went something like this: "Charlie, meet Hank, Hank meet Charlie. He might be your starting center in the opener against the Saints."

Quarterback Charlie Frye met and began working with his sixth starting center candidate this season in Hank Fraley, who was acquired Sunday in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2008.

"We're excited that he's here," Frye said. "I don't know what number this is, but I think we have two solid centers now."

Funny thing is, Frye still doesn't know which center -- either Fraley or Lennie Friedman -- will start on Sunday. Friedman, acquired in a trade with Chicago Aug. 24, took the first-team reps Monday in the small portion of practice that was open to the media, but the two will compete throughout the week.

"These two guys have proven themselves and are solid centers, so that boosts my confidence," Frye said.

Frye said that at least the team had an extra day to get Fraley acclimated. Normally, installation of a game plan begins on Wednesday.

"We're trying to get a head start on the game plan," Frye said.

"[Monday was] the first day I had to work with [Fraley], but I've taken snaps from a variety of different centers this training camp, so it shouldn't be a big deal."

Frye, heading into his first full season as the starter, has had to adjust to LeCharles Bentley (injured reserve), Bob Hallen (retired), Alonzo Ephraim (suspended), Ross Tucker (waived), Friedman and now Fraley.

"The biggest thing is the snap, because it's just like the quarterback throwing the ball," Frye said. "Everyone has a different style. Then there's the line calls and being confident in knowing the protection is going to slide the right way."

Once Fraley gets the terminology down, he should have no trouble making the line calls. He did it as the starter for 4½ seasons in Philadelphia on a team that went to four NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl.

"I know he helped Donovan [McNabb] out a lot," Frye said. "We'll just have to put in some more work."

Frye is coming off a finale against the Bears in which he was either hit or knocked down after all four of his throws - and on one of those, his arm was hit hard and left tingling. But that was with Ross Tucker at center and Ryan Tucker playing sparingly at right tackle. Monday, Ryan Tucker was back full time and Friedman was manning the middle.

"I'm real confident in my line," Frye said. "They're a bunch of veteran guys and they're pretty steady. They're like a rock out there, so I expect to be pretty well-protected on Sunday."

Frye also was buoyed by the return of Ryan Tucker, who was limited to two series in the finale after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Aug. 1.

"It's encouraging to have him back," Frye said. "He's one of the best right tackles in the game."

Right guard Cosey Coleman said the revolving door at center has not been a detriment to the guards.

"Our mind-set is to not let the center position be a distraction," he said. "We need to be ready for the Saints with whoever we have at center."

The Browns will face a Saints team that was second to last in the NFL to the Browns with 25 sacks. The Browns had 23. The Saints' sack leader is right end Will Smith of Ohio State, who had 8½.

"They have fast, up-the-field speed guys with Smith being the most notable," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "The nose tackle is a stouter guy who's closer to 300 pounds. The rest are about 275 to 280. Their linebackers are fast."

He acknowledged the line has little time to jell, but "I think having an experienced guy [Fraley] helps," Crennel said. "The quicker he learns the terminology, the better. Having experienced guards will help. They can make some of the calls."

Fraley said he's been studying the play book since Saturday night and could start Sunday if asked. "I'm comfortable enough," he said.

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