Frye returns to camp as starter

The former University of Akron quarterback has control of the Browns' offense.
BEREA (AP) -- For now, the small-town Ohio kid who grew up with Bernie Kosar's poster on his bedroom wall is king of Cleveland.
Charlie Frye, who as a rookie last summer entered his first NFL training camp third on the depth chart behind Trent Dilfer and Doug Johnson, walked onto the practice field Wednesday as the Browns' starting quarterback.
"He's the man," said new center LeCharles Bentley.
The Browns can only hope so.
Following a 6-10 season under first-year coach Romeo Crennel and a successful shopping spree in free agency in which they signed Bentley, Willie McGinest and Joe Jurevicius, the Browns are counting on Frye to lead them to victories and back to prosperity.
Frye won't have to win the job during camp. It's all his.
When did Crennel, who gave Frye a five-game audition at the end of last season, decide that the former Akron QB was his starter?
"When I traded Dilfer," Crennel deadpanned. "Hey, that's what it is. I had an open competition until that point."
Late-season wins
While that doesn't exactly come off as a ringing endorsement for Frye, the Browns were impressed by his ability to lead them to wins over Oakland and Baltimore in the waning weeks of another losing season in Cleveland.
"In the five games he was in there he showed some stuff," Crennel said. "He made some plays, got out of trouble. I don't think he ever got rattled. He always tried to keep his composure and looked down the field.
"When he made bad plays, he came back and tried to rally the team around him. I feel good about that."
Assuming Frye doesn't have a complete collapse during the preseason or gets hurt, he'll be Cleveland's fourth starting quarterback in four seasons. Tim Couch, Jeff Garcia and Dilfer all had their shots and failed -- miserably.
"I think he's ready," said Bentley, who like Frye grew up rooting for the Browns. "I haven't seen him play. I've seen him on film, and I know what I've seen. He's going to be a good player. Other players know when a player is going to be good. He has the work ethic. He has the ability.
"If he didn't, he wouldn't be the starter now."
Bonding
Frye's ready for his shot. He spent the off-season adding 15 pounds of muscle and improving his arm strength. The 6-foot-4, 218-pounder also bonded with wide receiver Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow, the two weapons he plans to use most once Edwards returns from knee surgery.
Still, there are those doubting whether Frye can bring the Browns back to respectability. ESPN recently listed Cleveland's quarterbacks as the league's worst group of signal callers. Frye dodged a question about the ranking like he was sidestepping a blitzing linebacker.
"I'm going to let my play speak about that," he said. "I'm not going to comment on that. We'll see where that ends up at the end of the season."
Frye's maturation is evident on and off the field. His teammates were impressed by his ability to take control of the huddle last season, and they admired his toughness in a 41-0 shellacking by Pittsburgh on Christmas Eve.
"I'm happy that he's our quarterback," wide receiver Dennis Northcutt said. "I think he's ready. He's as ready as he's going to be."
As Frye ran Cleveland's offense during the club's first public practice, Kosar, who led the Browns to three AFC title games from 1986-1989, watched from the sideline. The two have become friends as Frye has sought Kosar's advice on how to handle the pressures of being this football-frenzied city's top gun.
"He [Kosar] guided me through that last year as well as this year, too, so he is just a good reference to have," Frye said. "If I ever have a question, I know Bernie is there to call."
The Browns' success this season could hinge on Frye's development. His mobility and moxie will be aided by the club's best supporting cast since Cleveland returned as an expansion team seven years ago.
Still, there will be growing pains.
"There are going to be some down times where he's not going to look so great," general manager Phil Savage said. "But we have some other players here that can pick up the pace and maybe make a play when he can't."