Despite three straight losses, including one to the previously winless Houston Texans, Crennel prefers to have Dilfer run the offense rather than turn it over to rookie Charlie Frye.
"The team is making slow progress," the Browns coach said Wednesday. "We did some things better in Texas. Not good enough, grant you, but better."
Rookie Braylon Edwards also expressed his support for Dilfer, two days after the wide receiver commented that Frye would bring more life to the offense.
"I was asked one question, `What would be the difference if Charlie Frye started?' I answered that question and the way it was printed, it came off as I said Charlie Frye should start because of these reasons," he said. "It was just a miscommunication."
"He was a little surprised I called because it wasn't a big deal to him, and it wasn't a big deal to the organization so we just moved past it," Edwards said.
"There's no air to clear," Dilfer said. "Braylon and I are good friends and work very well together. I probably enjoy working with him as much as any rookie I've ever worked with."
"They're men. They can talk when they want to talk. I told them I thought they should talk about themselves and their position and not worry so much about other positions," he said.
Crennel certainly is not holding Edwards' comments against him, saying he'll move up in the rotation, sharing more time with No. 2 receiver Dennis Northcutt.
Dilfer has connected with Edwards only 14 times this season, including twice last Sunday, even though Edwards got significant playing time in the second half. Edwards had a big play on the final drive, a leaping 26-yard catch that got the Browns inside Houston territory.
Crennel pointed to Cleveland's 156 yards rushing and discipline in committing only one penalty as some of the positives he saw in the loss to the Texans. He didn't mention the passing game, however.
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