Frye has lead, but Quinn closing fast

Two of the three Browns
quarterbacks are in a close battle for the starting job.

DENVER (AP) — Charlie Frye can see Brady Quinn in his rear view mirror — and the rookie is closing fast.

The incumbent starter knows the clamor for the rookie first-round selection is loud. And Frye’s not sure he’s going to be the starter when the season opens.

“You’re asking the wrong guy,” Frye said. “You need to ask coach [Romeo] Crennel what he thinks about that.”

Crennel isn’t saying.

About the only thing that is clear is who the starting quarterback isn’t going to be. Fourth-stringer Ken Dorsey didn’t see any action against Denver as Crennel tried to narrow his focus.

Frye may be in the lead for the job, but Quinn has been spectacular in the preseason.

Frye led the Browns’ first-team into the end zone for the first time this summer Saturday night and looked solid in two series.

Quinn looked even better.

Quinn has been clicking

After missing 11 days in a contract holdout, Quinn has completed 21-of-30 passes for 236 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

“I think I made some progress,” Quinn said. “I missed a couple of throws, a couple of reads. Other than that, I think I’m progressing and getting better.”

Quinn looked sharp in his preseason debut against Detroit’s reserves Aug. 18, and Saturday he got some action against the Broncos’ starters. He completed all five of his passes on his first drive before a 29-yard toss to Joe Jurevicius in the end zone was erroneously ruled an incompletion.

Quinn has all three of the Browns’ touchdown passes this preseason and his 236 yards passing and 119.8 passer rating lead the team. Frye is 22-for-32 for 232 yards with an interception and a 76.6 passer rating. Anderson is 22-for-33 for 215 yards, one interception and a 67.1 rating.

“I like all three guys and what they’re doing right now,” Crennel said. “Like I said, it just gives you more options.”

Frye is doing his best to hold off Quinn. After his best preseason performance ever, he compared it to last year’s preseason game against the Bears but with one big difference.

Frye compares games

“I think the difference is I was playing against the [first-stringers] tonight,” Frye said after Saturday’s game. “If it’s up to me, I’m playing the whole game, but it’s not up to me. Once again, I’m not making the decision.”

Quinn may be the Browns’ quarterback of the future, but their fans are wondering if the future is now.

Quinn, sporting an “involuntary” buzz cut given to team rookies at the end of camp, seems to have earned the respect of his new teammates.

Good-natured hazing aside, Josh Cribbs, who caught Quinn’s touchdown pass against Denver, said the rookie looks ready to go.

Quinn is a “heck of a competitor,” Cribbs said. “He has as a strong desire to play and to put himself in the running with Derek Anderson and Charlie. The way they get [snaps] in a game is the way they get [snaps] in practice. They switch them in and out and as receivers we’re ready for all of them.”