CRANKSHAFT COMMENTARY

This time Akron native Tom Batiuk takes on another serious topic: the imponderable Browns. Will Frye be the guy? Right after going back-to-back games without an interception, he tosses up four. Toughness, yes. Touchdowns, not so much. While it really is still too early to tell, given the long learning curve of an NFL quarterback, my sense is that Frye will top out as a top 20 quarterback who, given the right supporting cast, could steer a strong supporting cast into the playoffs. Will he be a perennial Pro Bowler capable of carrying a team on one arm? Nope. Don’t see it happening.

But I would like to continue seeing him develop. No sense in suffering all these game-action growing pains if we abandon any hope of the eventual payoff. Clearly, though, another credible near-term option needs to be added to the mix for ’07. The Browns just don’t have one now. Say one thing for Charlie: he’s always gotten back up. The way this season has gone, though, I’m not taking that for granted.