Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Every Cleveland Browns starting quarterback since 1999 ranked

By Chad Porto

CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 28: Tim Couch #2 of the Cleveland Browns throws the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 28, 2003 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Browns won 22-14. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 28: Tim Couch #2 of the Cleveland Browns throws the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 28, 2003 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Browns won 22-14. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Tim Couch #2 of the Cleveland Browns holds the football in the air as he walks to the sideline during a game against the Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 12, 2003 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Raiders 13-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Tim Couch #2 of the Cleveland Browns holds the football in the air as he walks to the sideline during a game against the Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 12, 2003 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Raiders 13-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

Hey, remember that one playoff game?

Just like Derek Anderson, the only quarterback to get us to the playoffs gets his own page too.

2. Tim Couch (59)

Say whatever you will about him being a “bust” but in my book, Tim Couch was pretty dang good. The only problem Couch faced was having to be the starting quarterback behind an offensive line that was garbage. Couch took more shots than a hockey goalie in practice.

Couch is one of the few players on this list to play his entire career in Cleveland, though he did try to become Brett Favre’s backup in Green Bay in 2004. Couch went 22-37 as a starter while completing 59.8% of his passes. He threw 64 touchdowns and 67 interceptions and showed great growth in 2001 and 2002, where he went 15-15 as the starter and lead the 2002 squad to the playoffs.

Over the course of his Browns career, he threw for 11,131 yards and became known for his ability to win last-second games. Yet all the late-game heroics in 2001 and 2002 couldn’t keep Couch upright. During Couch’s entire tenure with the team, the Browns never had a solid tackle worth their weight. His best blocker, Shaun O’Hare, wasn’t even given the opportunity to start most of the time; despite going on to being a Pro Bowler and SuperBowl winning guard for the New York Giants.

Constant damage to his shoulder caused Couch to fall out of the league, despite multiple attempts to come back. He wouldn’t have a bad post-football life, however, becoming an announcer for the SEC and was even brought back to do commentary with the Cleveland Browns in 2018. Plus, he married Playboy playmate Heather Kozar. So, you know, not a bad life all in all.

Plus he’s absolutely not a bust.

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