 BEREA -- In public and in front of reporters, Charlie Frye comes across as a simple guy who belongs in a rocking chair on his front porch, weather permitting, watching the trucks roll by and sipping on a cold beverage.
So let's duck into the huddle, courtesy of fullback Terrelle Smith, and find out what the Browns rookie quarterback is really like.
''He's a different character,'' Smith said yesterday. ''He's quiet when you just talk to him. But he gets on that knee in the huddle, cusses at us, and tells us everything we need to do. That's what you want from your quarterback.
''When he gets under center, since I'm behind him, I see something nobody else sees. When he got under center against Miami (Frye's first game), his hands shook because he was nervous. I didn't see that yesterday.''
Frye is 0-2 as a starter after losing 20-14 to Jacksonville at home Dec. 4 and in Cincinnati, 23-20 on Sunday. But his record is secondary to what the Browns are looking for from the third round draft choice from the University of Akron.
Coach Romeo Crennel spent the majority of his press conference yesterday talking about Frye, and though he would not commit to Frye as the starter for the rest of the season, he did say Frye will start Sunday in Oakland, one of the most formidable places for a young player to perform no matter how bad the Raiders' record is.
Like the Browns, the Raiders are 4-9. The difference is Raiders coach Norv Turner is fighting for survival. Crennel is trying to build a future for the Browns, and Frye seems to be at the heart of it.
''He handled the crowd noise (in Cincinnati) pretty nicely,'' Crennel said. ''His composure in the huddle was good. He handled the offense efficiently. It wasn't like he was scared or he didn't know what to do or he was herky-jerky or anything like that.
''We said all along we were going to get Charlie some experience. He's coming along. He's passing these tests, so we'll keep giving him these tests to pass.''
Frye has completed 35-of-56 passes for 422 yards. He has thrown three touchdown passes and three interceptions. He has been sacked seven times and has a quarterback rating of 81.1.
Frye has had much of his success rolling out to the right and throwing on the run, a product of what he did at Akron. Crennel predicted opponents will start to figure out what Frye is doing and put a defender in position to keep Frye from getting out of the pocket. The other drawback is Frye is shrinking the field when he runs and throws, unless he dares to throw across his body.
''I think that's going to remain in my game,'' Frye said. ''I think it's a big advantage rather than sitting in there and taking a sack or not being able to move the chains. As long as I can move like that, I'll keep moving.''
Bengals cornerback Deltha O'Neal, who intercepted one pass from Frye and almost swiped another, said Frye stares down his receivers. Crennel, after studying the tape of the game, said Frye did lock in on Terrelle Smith, the intended receiver, before O'Neal jumped in front and made the interception.
Still, enough came out of the Cincinnati game to produce hope the Browns have a young quarterback with a bright future for the first time since Bernie Kosar was a rookie 20 years ago.
Rookie Braylon Edwards was two years old when Kosar was a rookie and only 10 when Kosar played his last game with the Browns in 1993. But Edwards, in the locker room yesterday and wearing a heavy brace on his injured right knee, did compare Frye to another well-known quarterback.
''He has a Brett Favre aura about him,'' Edwards said. ''Everybody's driven, just as he is. I think the biggest thing about Charlie is when he scrambles, he doesn't scramble to run. He scrambles to pass. He's playing good football right now. I can't wait to get back out there next year with him.'' READ MORE / LINK
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