The former first overall pick in the 1999 draft who started 59 games for the Browns from 1999-2003… Couch signed with Green Bay on 6/16/04… Compiling a 22-37 record over five seasons as a starter (2-12 in 1999, 2-5 in 2000, 7-9 in 2001, 8-6 in 2002 and 3-5 in 2003), he fashioned a 75.1 passer rating…His fourth season, 2002, was his best year; Couch led the Browns to their first playoff berth since 1994, throwing for a career-best 18 TDs, only to fracture his right fibula in the season finale and miss Cleveland’s Wild Card loss at Pittsburgh…After Scott Shields intercepted his first NFL pass, vs. Pittsburgh (9/12/99), Couch rebounded to post some of the better numbers ever by a rookie quarterback…Like Favre, Couch broke his thumb; he missed the last half of 2000 on Cleveland’s injured reserve, then returned in 2001 to start all 16 games and establish a career high with 3,040 yards…On an upward slope, he posted an 8-6 record as a starter in 2002, pacing Cleveland to the playoffs before breaking his leg…Then, after a 2003 preseason game vs. Green Bay, Cleveland head coach Butch Davis named Kelly Holcomb the Browns’ regular-season starter…When injury forced Holcomb out of the lineup early in the year, Couch returned, then split signal-calling duties the rest of the season, starting eight games…Finally, when Cleveland signed former Niner Jeff Garcia early this past March, the Packers began courting Couch…Sacked 166 times in Cleveland (by comparison, the Packers from 1999-2003 allowed 138), Couch was 4-1 when his line did not allow a sack…Also, has won all three career 300-yard games (336 at Tennessee, Dec. 30, 2001; 326 at Tennessee, Sept. 22, 2002; 316 vs. Pittsburgh, Sept. 17, 2000)…And, he’s 5-0 when throwing for three TDs (at New Orleans, Oct. 31, 1999; vs. Detroit, Sept. 23, 2001; at Tennessee, Dec. 30, 2001; at Tennessee, Sept. 22, 2002; at Cincinnati, Nov. 17, 2002.
2003
Saw action in 10 games, starting eight…Did not play in six contests, serving as a backup to Holcomb…Connected on 120 of 203 passes for 1,319 yards and seven touchdowns, with six interceptions…Backup QB the first three contests: vs. Indianapolis (Sept. 7), at Baltimore (Sept. 14) and at San Francisco (Sept. 21)…Started at Cincinnati (Sept. 28) for an injured Holcomb (leg) and completed 23 of 36 for 280 yards and two touchdowns, including a 71-yard screen to Quincy Morgan on the second play from scrimmage, with one interception…Started at Pittsburgh (Oct. 5) and compiled a career-best 80.0 completion percentage (20 of 25 for 208 yards) with two TDs, one interception and one rushing TD, in the Browns’ 33-13 triumph…Registered his second career rushing TD on a 9-yard run late in the second quarter; also hit a career-best 11 consecutive pass completions through the second quarter…Early in the game, led team on a 10-play, 81-yard TD drive with a 6-yard scoring pass to WR André Davis for a 7-0 lead…Added a 6-play, 19-yard (2:33) FG drive in the first quarter as the Browns increased the lead to 10-0 on a K Phil Dawson 19-yard FG…In the second quarter connected with WR Kevin Johnson on a 9-yard bullet for a TD as the Browns opened a 16-3 lead…Late in the second quarter, led the Browns on a 9-play, 78-yard (3:11) TD drive as Couch scrambled for a 9-yard TD run and the Browns opened a 23-10 lead…Started and was 16 of 26 for 127 yards in the Browns 13-7 win vs. the Raiders (Oct. 12)…Orchestrated an 11-play, 61-yard drive, which ended with RB William Green’s 5-yard TD run, for a 10-7 lead…Completed a pass to seven different receivers…Started vs. San Diego and was 13 of 24 passing for 102 yards and two interceptions…Was replaced late in the third quarter by Holcomb…Started at New England and was 7-11 passing for 40 yards…Left the game in the second quarter with a sprained right thumb and did not return…Backed up to Holcomb at Kansas City (Nov. 9), vs. Arizona (Nov. 16) and against Pittsburgh…Began contest at Seattle (Nov. 30) as the backup to Holcomb…Replaced Holcomb at the start of the third quarter, completing one of three passed for 5 yards before leaving the game with a left knee sprain and did not return…In match up vs. St. Louis (Dec. 8), began game as Holcomb’s backup but replaced him late in the second quarter…Threw for 98 yard and one TD on 6 of 9 passing, including an 11-play, 83-yard drive in the fourth quarter which ended in 2-yard run by Jamel White…Added one rush for 8 yards…Started at Denver (Dec. 14) and connected on 8 of 18 attempts for 181 yards with two scores and one pick…Completed a 35-yard pass to wideout Andre’ Davis for a TD to tie the game at 17-17…Drove team 42 yard and seven plays setting up kicker Brett Conway’s 48-yard field goal try with 1:05 remaining to give the Browns a late 20-17 lead…Completed a pass to six different receivers…Had one rush for 17 yards…Registered a 17 of 33 passing effort for 163 yards and one interception vs. Baltimore (Dec. 21)…Completed a pass to six different receivers…His first attempt of the game was completed to running back Jamel White, the 1,000th completion of his career…Threw for 115 yards, completing 9 of 18 passes, in a start at Cincinnati (Dec. 28)…Led an eight-play, 62-yard fourth quarter scoring drive, completing two passes on third downs, with the drive ending RB Lee Suggs 25-yard TD run.
2002
Had a career year, leading the Browns to their first postseason appearance since 1994, while posting career bests in touchdowns (18) and completions (273), with 2,842 passing yards…Started 14 games and notched an 8-6 record…Sustained a bruised right forearm in the third preseason contest at Green Bay (Aug. 26), forcing him out of the preseason finale and the first two regular-season games, vs. Kansas City (Sept. 8) and vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 15)…Missed the Browns’ lone playoff game, at Pittsburgh (Jan. 5), with injury (fractured right fibula)…Started the season’s third game, at Tennessee (Sept. 22), guiding Cleveland to a 31-28 overtime win; recorded career highs in attempts (50) and completions (36), matched a personal best throwing three TDs, and added 326 yards, hitting nine receivers…Earned AFC ‘Offensive Player of the Week’…Was 16 of 26 for 216 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions vs. Baltimore (Oct. 6)…Did not return after a fourth-quarter concussion…Went 21-for-31 with 148 yards and one TD in a 34-17 victory vs. Houston (Oct. 20)…At the Jets (Oct. 27), threw for 294 yards with two touchdowns on 32 of 48 attempts…Engineered game-winning drive in fourth-quarter, completing six of seven passes on a 14-play, 61-yard field-goal march…Completed eight consecutive passes in the second half…Hit on 15 of 24 passes for 181 yards vs. Pittsburgh (Nov. 3), with two touchdowns and two interceptions…Completed season-long 63-yard pass to Quincy Morgan…In a 27-20 win at Cincinnati (Nov. 17), threw for 242 yards with one interception, and tied a career high with three TDs…Completed 12 of 21 for 182 yards with one touchdown and two picks in a 24-13 win at New Orleans (Nov. 24)…Threw for 130 yards vs. Carolina (Dec. 1), completing 12 of 27 attempts with three interceptions…Led team to a 21-20 victory at Jacksonville (Dec. 8) with a 50-yard TD ‘Hail Mary’ pass to Morgan as time expired…Browns offense totaled 417 net yards…Posted his season’s highest passer rating (105.3) vs. Indianapolis (Dec. 15), passing for 287 yards on 21 of 35 attempts with two touchdowns…Threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to Morgan on the first play from scrimmage…Rallied the Browns to a 14-13 comeback win at Baltimore (Dec. 22), converting 22 of 31 attempts for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception…Capped an eight-play, 92-yard drive with a 1-yard pass to Mark Campbell, with :29 left…Hit seven of his first 11 for 68 yards vs. Atlanta (Dec. 29), before leaving early in the second quarter with a fractured right fibula, and did not return…Inactive at Pittsburgh (Jan. 5) in Cleveland’s AFC Wild Card loss, due to fibula.
2001
In his third season with the Browns, started all 16 regular-season games for the first time…Completed 272 of 454 attempts for 3,040 yards, 17 TDs, 21 interceptions and a 73.1 rating…Had career highs with 454 attempts and 3,040 passing yards…Became only the fourth Browns quarterback to top 3,000 yards…Did not throw an interception in 120 consecutive attempts, from Sept. 30-Nov. 4…Opened vs. Seattle (Sept. 9), with 17 of 33 passing for 176 yards and one interception…Led Browns to a 24-14 win vs. Detroit (Sept. 23), connecting on 12 of 20 attempts for 138 yards with three touchdowns (tied career high) and two interceptions…At Jacksonville (Sept 30), his 249 yards (one INT) on 24 of 34 passing helped lead Browns to a 23-14 win…Ignited Browns in a 20-16 win vs. San Diego (Oct. 7), throwing a game-winning, 19-yard TD to Kevin Johnson with 1:15 left…Had 194 yards on 14 of 28 passing, with two touchdowns, at Cincinnati (Oct. 14)…Hit on 11 of 18 passes for 149 yards and two TDs vs. Baltimore (Oct. 21), winning 24-14…At Chicago (Nov. 4), had 211 yards, two touchdowns and one pick, completing 14 of 23 passes in a 27-21 OT loss…Marked the third consecutive game he threw for two touchdowns…Was 18 of 33 passing for 160 yards with one TD vs. Pittsburgh (Nov. 11)…At Baltimore (Nov. 18), went 19 of 30 passing for 144 yards and three interceptions…Threw for 189 yards, one score and one INT vs. Cincinnati (Nov. 25), converting 16 of 27 pass attempts…Completed 17 of 26 passes for 110 yards with one touchdown and one interception at Tennessee (Dec. 2)…At New England (Dec. 9), amassed 244 yards with three interceptions, completing 20 of a season-high 39 attempts…Completed 21 of 30 passes vs. Jacksonville (Dec. 16) for 184 yards and one INT…Went 22 of 33 at Green Bay (Dec. 23), throwing for 203 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions…Attained a career-high 336 yards passing at Tennessee (Dec. 30) on 20 of 27 passing with three touchdowns and one interception…Team erased 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to win, 41-38, as Cleveland notched 409 net yards…Completed 13 of 26 passes at Pittsburgh (Jan. 6), passing for 150 yards with two interceptions.
2000
Started the first seven games, before landing on injured reserve Oct. 20 with a season-ending right thumb fracture, sustained in practice Oct. 19…Was 137 of 215 passing for 1,483 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions with a 63.7 completion percentage and a 77.3 passer rating…Opened the season with a 160-yard, one-TD effort on 19 of 27 passing vs. Jacksonvile (Sept. 3)…In a 24-7 win at Cincinnati (Sept. 10), Paul Brown Stadium’s inaugural, completed 19 of 31 passes for 259 yards, two TDs and one INT…Led Browns on touchdown drives on 65, 76 and 80 yards…Had a top-notch performance vs. Pittsburgh (Sept. 17), completing 23 of 31 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns…Threw a 79-yard pass to Kevin Johnson, a career long for both players…On the game’s final drive, marched Browns on eight-play, 95-yard field goal drive that gave Cleveland a 23-20 win…Registered 141 passing yards with one touchdown and two picks at Oakland (Sept. 24), going 16-for-29…Completed 20 of 35 passes for 203 yards and three interceptions vs. Baltimore (Oct. 1)…Established a season-high 72.7 completion percentage (16 of 22) at Arizona (Oct. 8) for 138 yards…Recorded 266 yards, one TD and three interceptions on 24 of 40 attempts at Denver (Oct. 15)…Fractured his right thumb in practice (Oct. 19) and missed the balance of 2000 on injured reserve.
1999
Played in 15 games with 14 starts, including his first NFL start in the expansion Browns’ second-ever game…Notched Cleveland rookie records and led NFL rookies with 223 completions, 399 attempts, 2,447 yards and 15 TDs…His 223 completions ranked third all-time among NFL rookies while his 399 attempts ranked seventh and his 2,447 yards and 15 TDs were eighth…In his NFL debut, vs. Pittsburgh (Sept. 12), replaced starter Ty Detmer with 10:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, attempting three passes with no completions…First pass was intercepted by Scott Shields…Made first NFL start at Tennessee (Sept. 19) and engineered first touchdown drive in third quarter, a seven-play, 78-yard series that culminated in a 39-yard TD to second-round pick Johnson, the expansion regime’s first touchdown…Also ran five times for 40 yards, with a long rush of 15…Accumulated 123 passing yards on 13 of 32 attempts, with one touchdown and one interception, at Baltimore (Sept. 26)…Against New England (Oct. 3), completed 13 of 28 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown (64-yard TD to Johnson in first quarter)…Threw for 164 yards on 15 of 27 passing vs. Cincinnati (Oct. 10), with one INT…Completed 18 of 23 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown at Jacksonville (Oct. 17)…At St Louis, (Oct. 24), converted 22 of 40 passes for 185 yards…Had 50 yards rushing on two carries, including a run of 40 yards in the first half, the longest run by a QB in Browns history…Led a 21-16, come-from-behind victory at New Orleans (Oct. 31), completing 11 of 19 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns…Threw the game-winning score, a 56-yard completion to Johnson, on the game’s final play, giving the Browns their first victory since 1995…His three TDs tied Bernie Kosar’s single-game Browns rookie record…Completed nine of 21 passes for 57 yards with one pick vs. Baltimore (Nov. 7); replaced by Detmer in the fourth quarter…Racked up 199 yards (18 of 28) with two touchdowns and one interception at Pittsburgh (Nov. 14)…Orchestrated game-winning FG drive (four plays, 58 yards) to give Cleveland 16-15 win as time expired…Hit 29 of 46 for 259 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, vs. Carolina (Nov. 21)…Vs. Tennessee (Nov. 28), completed 19 of 35 passes for 262 yards and two scores…Led Browns on a season-long 86-yard drive (15 plays), ending with his first career rushing TD, a 4-yard run…Also threw a 78-yard TD to Terry Kirby…Threw for 239 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions (16 of 28) at Cincinnati (Dec. 12)…Began game vs. Jacksonville (Dec. 19) completing 10 of 16 passes for 86 yards, but left in the second period with an ankle injury and did not return…Injury made him inactive third QB vs. Indianapolis (Dec. 26).