Call it a weekly rant or rave, your choice.

I'm sitting here in Cleveland Browns Stadium with the Browns up by three TDs - wait I just jinxed them, make that two TDs - against the Ravens.

You see something in this team you haven't in Coach Romeo Crennel's last squads, they actually seem to be enjoying playing and save one ridiculous run by Ravens running back Willis Magahee on what should have been a loss for a couple of yards, they've been fairly solid.

The record may be 1-2, but with the exception of that opening day disaster against the Steelers, they've been competitive. The could just as easily be 2-1 now, as opposed to 1-2. There are still huge problems here, primarily on the defensive side of the ball. The bend-and-bend-some-more defenise sometimes look like a sieve - especially on the line and you can beat this team passing. Still, I'll take competitive any day.

On a completey different note…

Courtesy of a ridiculous Saturday afternoon in college football the Ohio State Buckeyes, who were ranked outside the Top Ten in many pre-season polls - find themselves sitting at No. 4 because four teams ahead of them - Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and West Virginia - all went down in defeat over the weekend.

Do the Buckeyes deserve it? Probably not given the Eazy-Bake schedule they faced in non-conference play. But they don't make the rules. They could find themselves 6-0 by the time they get what could be a test against the Michigan State Spartans. But recall listening to all the college football pundits (are you out there Mark May) who said they didn't deserve it in 2002. This year is starting to remind me somewhat of that one.

You've got a QB some are still unsure of. The offense is proficient, not explosive and the defense is plain out vicious. Running the table is conceivable, but like most I am leary of the Penn State Nittany Lions and this year's surprise team, Illinois.

So what went wrong with Charlie Frye?

In case you've not heard, Mr. Frye has been shipped off to Seattle for a sixth round draft pick. Such is the life of an NFL quarterback.

Frye just wasn't in the right situation. Touted as a quarterback with the ability to grow into a starter when he came out of the University of Akron, Frye got drafted into the wrong situation. The Browns didn't need a hometown kid who wanted to play for his hometown team. I realize that many Browns fans fell victim to delusions of grandeur based on the circumstances and nostagia. After all, didn't Bernie almost take us to the Promised Land. The needed a QB who could lead and asking him to do so wasn't fair to him or this team.

Working behind a patchwork offensive line, he looked horrible last year. Fans thought it would all go away with the additions of Eric Steinbach and first round draft pick, Joe Thomas. Yes, the horrible play continued in last year's 34-7 embarrassment against the Steelers. Frye didn't look comfortable. He wasn't inaccurate. He held the ball for far too long and for much of his limited playing time he looked like a bug fleeing from the light. Most of the five sacks were his fault for some of those very reasons. More importantly, however, you could see that he'd lost the confidence of his teammates.

There's nothing more damning than that. Some of the faces in the Browns locker room were longer than the Mississippi River after the Steelers game. Is there any more blame to be parsed here? Probably.

I once wrote that Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel probably bought themselves another two years with this past spring's draft. I don't think that any longer. As much as the current regime loves to put the blame on past administrations, the fact remains that just a few players remain from the Butch Davis era. Savage and Crennel will live or die with this roster, but they have to know that after this weekend, the tick tocks on that ticking clock are very loud.

With the signing of Dorsey, it looks as if Brady Quinn will get his shot sooner rather than later. Given the memories associated with Tim Couch, the Browns had better hope they are right on this one.

So a colleague and myself were discussing the Browns' performance in the pressbox yesterday.

I don't know whether I'm a glass half full guy or what. Actually, I generally tend to think of myself as more of realist than anything. But I suggested that yesterday's opening day meltdown ensuring that the Dallas Cowboys will get a top five pick in next year's draft wouldn't have been too bad on the defensive end of the ball.

So those of you who actually read this tell me: what did you see on the defensive side of the ball?

Was there reason to be optimistic? If so, did the offense just put the D in such a bad place that they were bound to come out in the second half and look like a pack of mangy mutts? Or were they equally culpable for the loss?

Ken Dorsey the savior is in.  Romeo Crennel has said that Dorsey deserves a chance to play in the pre-season.  Waddya wanna bet he gets his shot here and he's let go ASAP?  Just an observation.  Have we seen the end of him in a Browns jersey?  Can ya tell we're in garbage time, rotate them in, rotate them out.

Quinn's putting his plays on his wrist.  Looks as if we're gonna see what the rookie's got - other than $8 million guaranteed.

Good lord, no Quinn and Dorsey is sacked for a safety.  I gotta tell you. My colleague Marla Ridenour is sitting next to me here praying for Quinn to enter the game, along with everyone in the freakin' stadium.

The paper's Browns beat writer, Pat McManamon makes a salient observation:  "We have a 9-9 tie.  The most dreaded words you can hear in pre-season."

Of course that may not last long considering the Chiefs had a decent return on the punt to give them back the ball after the safety.

A nice defensive stand give the Browns the ball back and Marla is almost aghast at the fact that Quinn isn't in there.  Time's a draggin' now.  Other members of the media are calling for Quinn's entry.

I love football, but this is akin to being victimized in the Spanish Inquisition.

Well that kickoff return makes Quinn's appearance irrelevant.  Not that the offense has been sparkling at all..

Charlie Frye: 12 of 15 for 122 yards.  Ummmm nope, he ain't giving up his gig without a fight.

Derek Anderson is going to get his shot at the beginning of the third quarter. Anderson does not look sharp at all.  He looks to be wilting uder the prospect of competition but does it really matter?

Does it matter that Frye has played decently?  Not really.  They're just keepin' the seat warm for Quinn's inevitable appearance this season.  The defense at least looks as if it's gelling. 

Anderson misses a wide open receiver on a deep route and is lucky it's not picked off, but he continues to drive the team and it's obvious they're at least trying to give him a fair shot. 

Side note:  Ryan Tucker makes it into the game.  Get a close look in these four pre-season games.  You won't see him again until October.  Yup Phil Dawson really nneds the work so we don't go for it on fourth down…Joy.  Browns 9, Chiefs 7.  Yawn.

Joe Thomas is suffering some growing pains - two holding penalties in the quarter.

 It's getting more and more apparent that Charlie Frye won't be giving up his job without a fight.  He's gotten off some nice passes and heck, Joshua Cribbs actually held on to a third down pass for a first down with 44 seconds to go in the quarter.

The fact that Frye has shaken off the gaffe that cost the Browns a touchdown shows some growth on his part.  He's driving the offense with confidence.  It would help if the receivers actually held on to th eball.

You actually hear something down here that those who attend Browns games haven't heard in a while - excitement.  Although that was marred by complete and utter lack of clock management.  Chiefs 7, Browns 6.  Half-time.

OK, I'm sitting here trying to decide which game attracts the best looking women.  Yes, I know that's sexist but I have to have something to occupy my mind between plays.

So far, I believe that the NBA wins that one.  Tehy come out smokin' hot at the Quicken Loans Arena.  But on a hot, slightly sticky night at Cleveland Browns Stadium, it's apparent that they are getting a run for their money.

OK, back to the action as Frye completes a 23-yard pass over the middle.  The ball could have used some more zip, but it got there.  There was a time when the Browns wouldn't allow him to throw over the middle, so I guess that's progress.  It's the two-minute warning.

It's scrub time on defense as the coaches get a look at what they've got on the other side of the ball.

Talk about needing a scorecard to know the players.  Third and 18.  Let's make it interesting and give up 17 yards.  Geesh. 

Frye is back in and Jerome Harrison, "Mr. August" as one media member dubbed him, is getting a workout at running back.

There's the intangible that Frye gives the offense - the ability to get out of trouble and make a play.  He completes a 26-yard pass for a first down.  If there is any advantage he has on Anderson it's that one.  He felt a little heat.  Moved slightly outside and nailed tight end Ryan Krause for a first down.

Football 101 folks - a backward pass is a fumble.  You GO CHASE THAT ONE.  You knock the guy with the ball on his arse.  Oy vey!  Chiefs up 7-6.

Well if Anderson can't complete a pass for a first down, I guess he figures he'd may as well run for one.

 Jason Wright takes a screen play that was set up reasonably well for 21 yards.  A touchdown for Kansas City thwarted by a false start penalty.  That's one way to do it.

Early call:  Neither Frye or Anderson look particularly mesmerizing in the QB position.  They could have pulled Bernie Kosar from the broadcast booth and he probably would have looked better.

Browns get a field goal out of this "drive." They're up by six with 8:40 left in the half.

I know it's the pre-season and I know we're seeing a vanilla offense, but I seriously hate when teams go ultra conservative when backed up against their endzone.  It's annoying.   I like it even less when wide receivers drop passes like Josh Cribbs, a Kent State University alum, did.

Jamal Lewis had four carries for 20 yards in the first quarter.  Promising.  We shall see.

Opportunistic defense.  Daven Holly gets a pick.  Anderson gets a second series in a row.  They obviously want to see what he can do.

Josh Cribbs is trying to be this team's third receiver…he's dropped two…at that rate things ain't happening.