Frye is Browns’ quarterback, for now

The suspense is over. Charlie Frye will start at quarterback for Cleveland’s season opener Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Frye, who started 13 games last year, battled in training camp to keep his job after Coach Romeo Crennel turned the starting position into an open competition. After off-season workouts and mini-camps, Frye entered training camp slightly behind Derek Anderson.

But Frye outperformed Anderson during preseason games and directed one touchdown drive against the Denver Broncos. Anderson produced no touchdowns when he led the offense during preseason games.

Crennel said Monday the position will be evaluated on a weekly basis.

“It doesn’t do me any good to say a guy’s the starter for the whole year,” he said. “Every position, I’ve told them, is not set in stone. Roles change.”

He also wouldn’t say if Frye’s backup was rookie Brady Quinn, a first-round draft pick from Notre Dame, or Anderson.

Quinn, selected 22nd overall in April, sat out 11 days of training camp in a holdout but led four touchdown drives in three preseason games, mostly against backups.

Seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan reported to the New York Giants on Monday, six days before the season opener.

Ending a holdout that might cost him more than $500,000 in fines, Strahan arrived at Giants Stadium about 4 p.m., handled some paperwork and met with General Manager Jerry Reese and Coach Tom Coughlin. He also took a physical and left after 45 minutes, not making himself available for comment.

The Giants have been granted a two-game exemption for Strahan, 35, so he will not count on the 53-man roster. He can be activated any time during that period.

The NFL’s active sacks leader would be paid his $4-million salary during that period.

The New England Patriots released Reche Caldwell, their leading receiver from last season, as off-season addition Randy Moss and cornerback Asante Samuel returned to practice.

Caldwell, 28, had 61 receptions for 760 yards and four touchdowns last season but also had two key drops in the AFC championship game loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Coach Bill Belichick said he wasn’t sure whether Moss would play in Sunday’s opener against the New York Jets.

The Denver Broncos signed free agent Simeon Rice, whose 121 sacks rank second to Strahan among active players. Rice was released by Tampa Bay this summer after the Buccaneers signed first-round draft pick Gaines Adams. . . . Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter says his surgically repaired right knee feels better every day, and he’s expected to play in the opener Sunday at Washington. . . . Veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn signed with Jacksonville, two days after being cut by Dallas. Glenn gives the Jaguars a fifth cornerback, playing behind starters Rashean Mathis and Brian Williams and possibly competing with Terry Cousin for the nickel role. . . . Running back Kevin Jones will start the season on the Detroit Lions’ active roster but doesn’t know when he’ll play. Jones said Monday at his first practice that getting back before the Lions’ sixth game, Oct. 21 against Tampa Bay, would be a bonus.