Just like old times

BEREA - The last time we saw quarterback Charlie Frye, he was at Cleveland Hopkins Airport to catch a flight for Seattle.

It was Sept. 11, 2007. Disgusted with Frye's performance two days earlier in a 34-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, then-general manager Phil Savage sent Frye to the Seahawks in exchange for a sixth-round 2008 draft choice, which paved the way for Derek Anderson to have a Pro Bowl season.

Frye will return to Cleveland Sunday as a starter for the Oakland Raiders, who will play the Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Frye was named the starter after Bruce Gradkowski, who has two knee injuries, was ruled out.

Frye is understandably excited about his return to northeast, Ohio. He grew up in Willard, Ohio, which is located about 70 miles southwest of Cleveland. He was a standout at the University of Akron and was selected in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Browns.

"There's a lot of excitement in the building and also for me personally to come home to Cleveland, where my journey started," Frye said. "It's a chance for my family and friends to come up to the game. My sister's getting married Saturday, so big things are going on."

It's ironic that Frye's return comes in the same week that former Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren was named president of the Browns. Holmgren was instrumental in getting Frye to Seattle in an attempt to discover something in his game that didn't surface with the Browns.

Frye was stuck behind Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace with the Seahawks. He didn't attempt a single pass in the '07 season. Last season he completed 12-of-23 passes for 83 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Frye, who signed with the Raiders as a free agent, had the same problems that Brady Quinn has experienced. Both are slow decision-makers, and neither has shown the ability to be accurate on a consistent basis.

Frye's struggles reached the point of no return at least in Savage's thinking - when he was sacked five times in the first half of the '07 opener against the Steelers. Coaches and players were reportedly screaming at Frye to throw the ball when a defensive back was untouched on a blitz that resulted in one of the sacks.

The trade could have been one of the best things to happen to Frye in his career. He left behind a scene that had turned sour on him and landed in a place where he could be tutored by Holmgren, who's known for his ability to get the best out of quarterbacks.

"I learned more under Mike Holmgren in two years than I have my whole football career - college, high school, everything," Frye said. "He's probably the best teacher. He just doesn't tell you what you're supposed to do. He tells you why you're supposed to do it and how you're going to do it. It clicks for guys, and it makes the game easier to understand."

The Browns haven't changed much since Frye left. Anderson had a big season in '07, but he's struggled the last two seasons and was playing behind Quinn until the latter suffered a season-ending foot injury last Sunday. The roster, however, has changed dramatically. Just 15 current players were with the Browns when Frye was traded.

Two people that are no longer with the Browns are Savage and former coach Romeo Crennel. Both were fired after the 2008 season.

Frye thinks the organization has finally made a good choice in bringing in Holmgren.

"(The Browns) are still trying to find who they are," Frye said. "I think they got a big piece of that puzzle when they hired Mike. Some people get the job done in this league and others are trying to get to that point. All I'm saying is Mike has a proven track record. He's been to the Super Bowl. He's won a Super Bowl as a head coach. That's just the respect I have for Mike Holmgren. I think anybody who's played for him would say the same thing."

Frye started his first game since the '07 opener last Sunday in a 20-19 win over the Denver Broncos. He was 9-of-17 for 68 yards and one interception before suffering a mild concussion. JaMarcus Russell, a disappointment after being the first overall pick in the 2007 draft, finished up and threw the game-winning touchdown late in the game.

"The reason we're going with Charlie is he gives us the best chance to win," Raiders coach Tom Cable said. "Even when he wasn't playing, he was important to what we were doing. He wants to be a coach some day, and that's how he prepares."

It should be an interesting homecoming for Frye.

mmclain@tribtoday.com