<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Browns sign quarterback Charlie Frye</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
July 27, 2005
CLEVELAND (AP) --
Charlie Frye, the fourth quarterback selected in April's NFL draft, has agreed to a four-year $5 million contract with the
Cleveland Browns, his agent said Wednesday night. Frye's signing leaves wide receiver
Braylon Edwards, the No. 3 overall pick, as the Browns' only unsigned rookie. The club opens its first training camp under new coach Romeo Crennel on Friday. Frye's agent, Eric Metz, said he only had to finalize language on the deal and that Frye was expected to sign his first pro contract late Wednesday night.
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</NOSCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>``I'm real excited,'' said Frye, who played at Akron. ``I can't wait to get in there. I've been a Cleveland Browns fan my whole life and this is a perfect situation for me.''
After passing for 11,478 yards in four years with the Zips, Frye was regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in last year's class. Some predicted he might go as high as the first round, but he fell to the Browns at No. 67 overall. Only QBs
Alex Smith (No. 1),
Aaron Rodgers (No. 24) and
Jason Campbell (No. 27) were taken ahead of Frye.
Frye is likely to be Cleveland's No. 3 quarterback this season behind starter
Trent Dilfer and
Doug Johnson, who was signed by the club in May.
Metz said it was vital to have Frye signed in time for the opening of camp.
``We definitely wanted him to be there for the first practice,'' Metz said, ``and both sides worked really hard to make that happen. Charlie couldn't be in a better spot, getting to learn under a guy like Trent Dilfer. We couldn't be happier.''
Frye is the latest highly touted quarterback from the Mid-American Conference, following
Chad Pennington,
Byron Leftwich and
Ben Roethlisberger, who led the
Pittsburgh Steelers to a 15-1 regular-season mark as a rookie last season.
Now that they've got Frye signed, the Browns can turn their attention to Edwards, the former Michigan star. The club has exchanged proposals with agent Lamont Smith, but have yet to strike a deal.
The Browns aren't the only team having trouble getting deals done with first-round picks. As of Wednesday night, only six teams have signed their top pick. Lamont Smith did not return a phone message.
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