Tim Couch at NFL.com Timothy Scott Couch (born July 31, 1977 in Hyden, Kentucky) is an American football player.
Couch was a star quarterback at Leslie County High School and the first overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft by the expansion Cleveland Browns out of the University of Kentucky. Couch took over from Ty Detmer as the team's starting quarterback in the second game of his rookie season. He went on to have several up-and-down seasons as a starting quarterback for Cleveland, eventually facing competition from journeyman backup Kelly Holcomb for two seasons.
Football analysts point to Couch's problems early in his career with the Browns as a textbook case of how not to handle a young quarterback. Mistakes included perpetually switching head coaches and offensive systems, failing to provide an NFL-calibre offensive line, pulling him into and out of the starting lineup, and otherwise failing in every way to provide consistent instruction and environment. The Browns' passing over current All-Pro running back Shaun Alexander in the 2000 NFL Draft didn't help either. By the end of the 2003 season, it was clear to the Browns, Couch, and NFL observers that then-head coach Butch Davis, himself struggling in his role (he would eventually be fired after continually fielding losing teams), would never give Couch the opportunity to start again, as he brought in former San Francisco quarterback Jeff Garcia and handed him the starting role.
In 2004, after refusing to take a reduction in pay and an offseason full of uncertainty for Couch, the Browns released him, but not before banning him from the Browns training facilities and preventing him from practicing with the team. Couch signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers soon afterward, Couch went on to have a disappointing training camp with his new team due to ongoing shoulder injuries and was released by the Packers during their final cutdown to 53 players prior to the season. Couch filed a grievance with the NFL Players Union against the Packers.
After undergoing shoulder surgery in February 2005, Couch auditioned for the Cincinnati Bengals in December 2005. The Bengals are not expected to actively pursue any free agents until the end of the season, although Jon Kitna may not be back in 2006. Couch has also reportedly participated in tryouts with the Tennessee Titans as late as January 2006.