Cleveland Browns' 10 best players since returning to the NFL in 1999

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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Tim Couch Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images /

7. Tim Couch

You may wonder why two quarterbacks. Well, Cleveland hasn’t had their long-term guy but for different reasons, two of them deserves to be on this list. I understand why one may be hesitant to list two but stats don’t say the whole story.

Tim Couch was not the answer at quarterback but not enough was around him. Some quarterbacks would excel in any system while others are best suited for specific types. Simultaneously, some quarterbacks regularly take the talent level surrounding them up to another level but they can only do that for so long.

Overall, Couch was a solid quarterback while in Cleveland for an expansion team. However, playing in just seven games during his second season did not help his development in 2000 and for the rest of his career.

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Had there not been as much as pressure as there was to win early, perhaps Couch’s NE Ohio tenure would have lasted longer. Then again, if more surrounded Couch that would have helped his case as well.

Couch was a member of the 1999 NFL All-Rookie team. In five seasons with the Browns, Couch earned a 22-37 record. Throughout his time there, Couch threw for 11,131 yards, 64 touchdowns, and 79 interceptions.

The 11,131 yards thrown is good for fifth all-time in Browns’ history. Although the hope was there in Couch, he just wasn’t enough to be the long-term answer. With that in mind, five years starting in Cleveland is quite something then and now.

After his Cleveland tenure ended, Couch joined the Jaguars and Green Bay Packers but did not appear in a regular season game for either team.

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Cleveland Browns’ 10 best players since returning to the NFL in 1999

By Ryan Rosko | Feb 26, 2018

7. Tim Couch

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