By Jordan Long
The Cleveland Browns came back into the NFL in 1999. This was after original Browns’ owner Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore to become the Ravens following the 1995 season. On this date in 1999 was the NFL Draft, the first for Cleveland since they were back in the NFL. They held the number 1 pick.
In the 1999 Draft, the Browns wanted a franchise player to lead the team. They could have selected Donovan McNabb or Daunte Culpepper. The Cleveland Browns decided on Tim Couch.
Couch attended the University of Kentucky which is not known as a school where most NFL players come from. He played 3 years there, 1996 to 1998. Couch threw for 8,435 yards, 74 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions. He was a pocket passer and the Browns thought his game would translate well to the NFL. That was enough for the Browns to make him the #1 pick in the 1999 Draft.
Couch became the Browns’ starter. They were rebuilding and didn’t have a solid team around him. In his rookie year Couch threw for 2,447 yards, 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. It didn’t help that Couch was running for his life the whole season. The Browns allowed 56 sacks on him. He went 2-12 as the Browns starter that year.
His play improved. In 2001 Couch tossed for a career high 3,040 yards. He was still having difficulty reading NFL defenses and took chances, chucking the ball into double coverage. Couch had 17 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
2002 was the last time the Browns made the postseason. Couch led the team to an 8-6 record as a starter. During that season he totaled 2,842 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. The Browns lost in the Wild Card round to the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-33. Couch was the Browns starter 1 more year in 2003 before Cleveland let him go. He bounced around the league and never saw the football field again as a starter. He left the game for good following the preseason of 2007.
Couch is considered one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history. He never adjusted to the NFL game. He left the NFL with a disappointing record as a starter of 22-37. Couch totaled 11,131 yards, 64 touchdowns, and 67 interceptions. It didn’t help his offensive line couldn’t protect him and he was sacked 166 times.
McNabb and Culpepper are running quarterbacks and were more mobile than Couch. On this date back in 1999, the Browns thought Couch was the quarterback of the future.
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