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Anderson takes reins as Browns await Bengals

Sep 16, 2007 - 11:09 AM Cincinnati (1-0) at Cleveland (0-1) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT ------------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Two days after absorbing a beating by the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Browns avoided a quarterback controversy by eliminating one.

Charlie Frye was traded to Seattle on Tuesday, opening the door for Derek Anderson to start Sunday when intrastate and AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals pay a visit.

In Sunday's season-opening 34-7 loss to Pittsburgh, Frye was yanked in the second quarter in favor of Anderson. Trailing, 17-0, at the time, the Browns received no discernible boost from the switch of quarterbacks.

Frye completed just 4-of-10 passes and was sacked five times. Anderson was not much better, finishing 13-of-28 with one touchdown, one interception and a fumble.

If anything, the move likely served to ease the logjam at quarterback for Cleveland and clear the path for rookie Brady Quinn, the No. 22 overall pick, to eventually take over the job.

Browns general manager Phil Savage said Anderson remains the starter for now but conceded the move was designed to expedite Quinn's development.

"By making Brady the backup, it obviously ramps up his preparation in terms of reps and keeping him on course with a chance to play at some point later this year," Savage said.

The Bengals opened the season Monday night with a 27-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens - a victory that was not as impressive as it seems.

Cincinnati took advantage of six turnovers, turning them into 24 points. Otherwise, the Bengals' high-powered offense pretty much was held in check.

"A win is a win against that team, that defense," Bengals quarterback Palmer said. "When you don't play great and you don't play your best football, you just say a thankful prayer for being able to get a win. The defense won the game."

Palmer finished 20-of-32 for 194 yards and two touchdowns passes, including a 39-yarder to Chad Johnson, who had five receptions for 95 yards.

Running back Rudi Johnson managed just 50 yards on 18 carries, but he has rushed for at least 125 yards in four of the last five meetings with Cleveland.

The Bengals have won the last five games in the series, including a 30-0 victory in November 2006 which marked the team's first shutout in 17 years.