CLEVELAND (AP) - Cleveland Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer had surgery on his right knee to correct a torn tendon Tuesday.

Team physician Anthony Miniaci used a scope at the Cleveland Clinic to repair a partial tear of the patella tendon. Dilfer, 33, is expected to be ready by next season.

``This past season I had some problems with my knee throughout the year, so we felt it was best to have the procedure and clean up the knee during the offseason,'' Dilfer said in a statement.

Dilfer, an 11-year veteran, signed a four-year deal with the Browns last year after stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks. He went 4-7 as a Browns starter before losing the job to rookie Charlie Frye.

Coach Romeo Crennel has said there will be an open competition for the starting job next season between Dilfer and Frye, who went 2-3 as a starter after taking over.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.