Former Cleveland Browns No. 1 pick Tim Couch, who is among the biggest quarterback busts in recent history, is fed up with the way his former team continues to drop the ball at that position over the past 15 years.
“It’s been a long 15 years of watching the same thing repeat itself over and over.” Couch said in an interview, via ESPN. “The biggest thing that frustrates me is the lack of commitment and loyalty to let a coach see it out and a quarterback play it out.”
Couch has personal experience when it comes to this. After initially struggling early in his career, the former Kentucky standout helped lead Cleveland to a rare playoff appearance in 2002. Couch then broke his leg in the team’s final regular season game before watching Kelly Holcomb put up a ridiculous 420-plus yard performance in a playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The two then entered the following season competing for the starting job, a season that was Couch’s final with the Browns organization.
This has been par for the course for an organization that has been mismanaged for so long. And now right back into a quarterback “controversy,” Cleveland sits at 7-7 on the outside looking in when it comes to a playoff spot. Brian Hoyer started the Browns first 13 games before being replaced by rookie Johnny Manziel last week against Cincinnati. Manziel proceeded to throw for just 80 yards with two interceptions in a blowout 30-0 loss to the Bengals.
Couch continued…
This is just repeating the same process of the last 15 years, like Bernie said. Whether it was me, Kelly or on and on and on, the finger keeps being pointed at the quarterback.
Pretty much on cue, Manziel represents Cleveland’s 17th starting quarterback since Couch last suited up with the team in 2003.
Let’s hope Mike Pettine and Co. actually decide to give Manziel his shot. The last thing this franchise needs is yet another starting quarterback when the 2015 season comes calling.
Photo: ESPN.com