On Sunday the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to give Tim Couch another chance to resurrect a once promising NFL career by
signing the veteran quarterback to a 2 year contract. This deal is for the veteran minimum and comes with no signing bonus. In other words, this could be considered a 6 week extended tryout for the former #1 overall pick of the 1999 draft.
This past Thursday, Couch hinting at a possible deal with a team could come soon while being interviewed on local Cleveland sports talk station AM850. Couch insisted that with his latest batch of surgeries out of the way, he’s throwing “better than ever” and also mentioned that he’s been working out to the point that he’s up to 245 pounds. Couch played about 20 pounds lighter in Cleveland.
I have a couple thoughts about this signing. My first thought right away didn’t even have to do with the Browns, but of fellow class of ’99 free agent quarterback Duante Culpepper. I mean, if Jacksonville would rather give the guy who hasn’t taken in NFL snap in 3 years a chance, well then what does that say about the state of Culpepper’s future plans? Either Duante wants too much money and a chance to start (good luck getting either by the way) or every team doctor around the league must be confusing images of Duante’s “repaired” knee ligaments with a bowl of beef-a-roni. Mmm...beef-a-roni.
Personally, my opinion of Couch is not as bad as most other Browns Backers. Naturally, as the quarterback he took way too much blame in a near un-winnable expansion situation here in Cleveland (just ask David Carr). Couch wasn’t responsible for the franchise failing for 8 years to draft an offensive tackle on the first day every draft till this year. Was he the guy who drafted Courtney Brown or Gerard Warren? No…though Brown did end Couch’s season in 2000 by breaking his right thumb in practice, that’s another story.
Now this might sound like I’m trying to perk up the best looking turd sandwich here, but Couch does still have the best winning percentage of any Browns starting quarterback since 1999. He was also the only Browns quarterback capable of running a 2-minute drill that led to more than a few 4th quarter come from behind wins. Couch also left Cleveland with a 3-4 record vs. the Steelers. Without him they have lost 7 straight to their bitter one-sided rivals.
Then again, Couch’s biggest victory of his career may have been when he somewhat beat out Cade McNown for the afections of former Playboy PMOY Heather Kozar. Even if Cade had managed to have an NFL career, would he
still have that
lifetime ban from the Playboy mansion? Absolutely. That just goes to show, even Tim Couch knew not to mess with Hef's chicks.
For Tim's sake, let's hope he's moved on to learning how to read opposing defenses.
Read the complete post at http://kidcleveland.blogspot.com/2007/07/jacksonville-picks-up-used-couch.html