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Frye Named Backup QB
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Fred Greetham
Date: Sep 5, 2005
Monday in Berea, Head Coach Romeo Crennel officially named rookie Charlie Frye the Browns backup quarterback heading in to the 2005 season. Also, Nat Dorsey comes to town with a lot on his mind, notes on running backs, and Billy Miller looks forward to playing as early as next Sunday...
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Berea – Things just keep getting better and better for rookie
Charlie Frye. Coach Romeo Crennel named the Willard and
Akron alum the Browns backup quarterback.
“Charlie has stepped in and performed at this point more than Doug (Johnson) has,” Crennel said.
“The fact that he’s gone in and been able to move the team has been good,” he said. “He’s got pocket presence and has made plays.”
Frye had a good preseason as he was 34-of-50 for 348 yards. He had two touchdowns and one interception and a QB rating of 92.8.
Frye is undaunted by the fact he is only one play away from being in Sunday’s game against the Bengals.
“It doesn’t change my thinking at all,” Frye said. “I always prepare like I’m going to play and expect to do well.”
Crennel said Frye’s performance against Chicago helped Crennel make the final decision. Frye was 12-of-14 against the Bears.
“The Chicago game did a lot for him,” Crennel said. “He was thrown in there and he put up some good numbers. It was a road game and in a hostile environment. I thought that was impressive.”
Crennel said Johnson gives the Browns insurance as the third quarterback.
“Doug has NFL experience,” Crennel said. “The time he missed put him behind, but he has played in the NFL in regular season games and that’s important.”
Johnson was 6-of-12 for 59 yards in the preseason and had a QB rating of 64.2.
Big Addition: Romeo Crennel said the opportunity to get
Nat Dorsey was too good to pass up even if it left the Browns without a backup center.
“Sometimes you have to strike while the fire is hot,” Crennel said. “Minnesota definitely had a need at center and they were interested in Fowler after they lost their center.”
Dorsey, who will turn 22 on Sept. 9 is in his second season after coming out of
Georgia Tech early. He started seven games last season for the Vikings after being their fourth-round draft choice in 2004.
Dorsey (6-7, 322 pounds) said Vikings’ coach Mike Tice told him they hated to lose him.
“The coach told me they needed a center,” Dorsey said. “I know it affected him because we were tight.”
Dorsey has been caught in a whirlwind after arriving in Cleveland early Monday morning.
“It’s one of those things that I haven’t had time to think about,” he said. “I’m here to help the team win.”
“We feel Dorsey can play,” Crennel said “He’s an up-and-coming tackle that can play either left or right tackle.
“When you can get a young tackle, we felt it will benefit us as we move on down the road,” he said. “We felt it was tougher to get a tackle with upside than a guard or center.”
Dorsey thinks he’s going to be able to help the Browns, now and in the future.
“I stepped in as a rookie when a starter went down,” he said. “I’m a big guy, but I’m athletic for my size.”
Dorsey graduated from St. Augustine high school in New Orleans and has had a lot on his mind.
“I’ve lived there my whole life,” he said. “Right now, I’m just trying to take care of my family and make sure they are alright. I was going to bring them to Minnesota, but that has changed.”
Crennel said the Browns will most likely add a backup center before Sunday’s game.
“That’s why it’s good it’s not Sunday,” he said. “(Joe) Andruzzi has snapped before. Hopefully, by Sunday, we’ll have a center.”
Miller Might Play Sunday: New Browns tight end Billy Miller might be pressed into service on Sunday if
Aaron Shea is not fully recovered from a strained muscle.
“Miller gives us some depth,” Crennel said. “He’s a veteran tight end who has caught some passes in this league.”
Miller (6-3, 245 pounds) was the roommate of
Daylon McCutcheon for four years at
USC.
“The Browns use the tight end in their offense and that excites me,” Miller said. “I like running routes and catching balls.
“The biggest thing right now is getting into the play book and trying to get a grasp of it.”
Miller was phased out of the offense in Houston as the Texans are employing more of a blocking tight end.
“They reduced me role and went more to a blocking tight end to help out the tackle.”
Miller caught 51 passes in 2002 for 613 yards, including three touchdowns. He had 40 receptions in 2003 for 355 yards, including three touchdowns. Last year, he had just 17 catches for 178 yards and one touchdown.
Rueben or William: Crennel said the starting running back will probably not be announced until game time. Since
Lee Suggs has been out with an ankle injury, the choice will most likely come down to Rueben Droughns or
William Green.
“We’re still deciding on who the starter will be,” Crennel said. “It might be a game time decision.”
In the preseason, Droughns had 27 carries for 118 yards (4.4 avg.) and one touchdown. Green had 31 carries for 112 yards (3.6 avg.) and two touchdowns.
After being told he had permission to seek a trade in the off-season, Green is just glad to be on the team.
“I’m not sure what’s going on,” Green said. “I’m just glad to be on the team and want to make the most of my opportunity.”
Injury Update: TE Aaron Shea (shoulder), RB Lee Suggs (ankle) and CB
Gary Baxter (concussion). Crennel said all three will be held out of practice today and will be evaluated on Wednesday. Crennel said Baxter would be questionable to doubtful if listed right now. He said if Baxter cannot play, most likely
Leigh Bodden will start in his place. Crennel said Suggs has made progress and could start practicing on Wednesday.
“He’s made good improvement,” Crennel said. “He has the boot off and has a chance to practice on Wednesday.”
All three players were at practice on Monday.
Practice Squad: The Browns have announced seven players on the practice squad. Five were with the team in training camp: WR
Brandon Rideau, TE
Paul Irons, DL J’Vonne Parker, RB
Sultan McCullough and LB
Justin Kurpeikis. The two other players were OL Atlas Herrion and OL Pete McMahon. Herrion (6-4, 313 pounds) was with on the Packers’ practice squad. McMahon (6-8, 330 pounds) was drafted by the Raiders this year in the sixth-round. Herrion is from
Alabama, while McMahon is from
Iowa.
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