Browns send Frye packing

Browns starting quarterback Charlie Frye, benched before halftime in the season opener, was traded to Seattle for a sixth-round draft pick on Tuesday, a stunningly swift move that pushes rookie Brady Quinn to No. 2 on the depth chart.

Frye's departure means Derek Anderson , who lost the quarterback competition to Frye during the preseason, will start for the Browns on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals and Quinn will be his backup.

"This move obviously clarifies our quarterback situation," general manager Phil Savage in explaining the deal.

The Browns said Frye must pass a physical for the trade to be completed. Cleveland also signed veteran free agent quarterback Ken Dorsey, cut 10 days ago by the club, to a one-year contract.

Dorsey will be Cleveland's third-string quarterback and serve as a mentor to Quinn, the franchise's future QB selected in the first round of April's draft.

Frye was dealt less than 48 hours after playing poorly and being pulled in the second quarter by coach Romeo Crennel for Anderson in the Browns' 34-7 loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Frye, who made 13 starts last season and five as a rookie in 2005, beat out Anderson during a drawn-out competition that began during the offseason and carried through training camp and the preseason.

Less than two weeks ago, Savage said, "Let's see what Charlie can do with a full deck" this season.

It took less than 20 minutes on Sunday for the club to decide Frye was no longer in their plans.

He went 4-of-10 for 34 yards with an interception -- a QB rating of 10.0 -- and was sacked five times by the Steelers before Crennel yanked him.

The trade speeds up the timetable for Quinn, the No. 3 quarterback Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat Cleveland for the eighth straight game and dropped Crennel's record against AFC North teams to 1-12.

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

Good news for Eli

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning received encouraging news on his injured shoulder, ESPN.com reported.

After studying an MRI of Manning's shoulder, Dr. James Andrews told the team he believed Manning was "week to week," a source said.

The Giants have varied on their official report, calling Manning's injury either a contusion of the A-C joint or a shoulder sprain.

Manning has said he was not in a great deal of pain and believed he has a chance of playing Sunday against the Packers.

Miami signs safeties

Veteran safeties Donovin Darius and Lamont Thompson signed with the Miami Dolphins, who sought help at the position because Yeremiah Bell will miss the rest of the season with a torn left Achilles' tendon . . . The Carolina Panthers signed former Patriots tight end Christian Fauria. The 13-year veteran spent last season with the Redskins but was cut in the offseason in a salary cap move . . . Seattle dealt defensive end Bryce Fisher to Tennessee for an undisclosed draft pick . . . Free safety Will Demps signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans. The Texans lost starter Jason Simmons for the season with a torn patellar tendon Sunday . . . The Chicago Bears elevated former Boston College defensive tackle Antonio Garay from the practice squad to the active roster and signed cornerback Adebola Jimoh. The moves came a day after Chicago learned safety Mike Brown and defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek would miss the rest of the season with knee injuries . . . The Giants put defensive lineman William Joseph (back) on injured reserve and signed veteran defensive tackle Russell Davis.

Chiefs change kickers

Disappointed with kicker Justin Medlock, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Dave Rayner to a two-year contract. Medlock was inconsistent during an 0-4 preseason and missed a 30-yard attempt in the first quarter against Houston Sunday. The Chiefs lost, 20-3. Rayner was drafted by Indianapolis in 2005 and beaten out in Green Bay this year by rookie Mason Crosby. With the Packers in '06, Rayner made 26 of 36 field goal attempts . . . Veteran kicker John Carney, 43, signed with Jacksonville, giving the Jaguars insurance for the injured Josh Scobee (quadriceps).

Wroten suspended

St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Claude Wroten was suspended without pay for four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Wroten will be eligible to return to the team Oct. 8. The second-year player out of LSU was a third-round draft pick in 2006 . . . As if Monday night's 27-20 defeat to the Bengals wasn't bad enough, the Ravens lost return specialist B.J. Sams for the season with a torn knee ligament, and Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden's status is unknown (hyperextended toe).

Russell arrives

Quarterback JaMarcus Russell arrived in the Bay Area yesterday to sign a record rookie deal with the Oakland Raiders and end the longest holdout in more than two decades by the league's top pick. Russell took a flight from Alabama to California and was expected to sign the six-year, $61 million contract in time to join his new team for practice today, according to a person familiar with the talks. Russell will be guaranteed a record $29 million, the highest amount allowed under the NFL's rookie salary pool rules, and would get an additional $3 million if he reaches minimal playing time incentives.