Cleveland BROWNS   2002 Record: 9-7 Head Coach: Butch Davis 16-16-0 overall, 0-1 postseason TEAM LEADERS   Passing Tim Couch 273-443, 2,842 yards, 18 TDs, 18 INTs   Rushing William Green 243 carries, 887 yards, 6 TDs   Receiving Quincy Morgan 56 catches, 964 yards, 7 TDs   Kicking Phil Dawson 22-28 FGs, 34-35 PATs, 100 points Schedule | Roster | Statistics | Stadium

By Dave Clark, SI.com

If only we had a nickel for every time we saw the "Head coach: No QB controversy here" headline. Well, Butch Davis is playing that tune in Cleveland, saying Tim Couch never lost his starting job. Why not? Kelly Holcomb showed signs last season that he may be of starting caliber. In Week 1, he was 27 of 39 for 326 yards, three touchdowns with no picks (OK, it was against Kansas City, but bear with me). Many weeks later, he posted 26 of 43 for 429, three touchdowns and one pick in a playoff game in Pittsburgh (just his fourth NFL start). And he wasn't too shabby in the other games in which he appeared.

Tim Couch threw just as many interceptions as touchdowns last season (he's got 57 TDs and 61 picks in his career) and finished with just one 300-yard game in 14 starts. He did lead multiple exciting comebacks, victories that the Browns couldn't have made the playoffs without. But he's coming off a bad injury (broken right leg) and he also antagonized fans with his reaction to their treatment of him when he got hurt earlier in the season. This could get interesting. Tight end Aaron Shea clearly put it best: "All I know is one of those two hillbillies is going to start for us."

William Green endured a very inconsistent rookie season. The glass-half-full fan points to flashes of brilliance, including 114 rushing yards against the Saints, 119 against the Jaguars, and 178 with a pair of scores against the Falcons (all in the second half of the season, all Cleveland wins). The other fan remembers 17 carries for 36 yards in Week 2 against the Bengals, 12-24 in Week 7 against the Texans and 25 rushes for just 30 yards in the playoff loss to the Steelers. He did get the ball a lot more in the second half -- 20-plus carries in every game from Nov. 17 on -- so it would appear they're sticking with him.

The Browns have a young and exciting quartet of receivers that make up for lack of size with heart. Quincy Morgan more than doubled his rookie season yardage total in his second year, Dennis Northcutt had his best year yet, Andre' Davis had a solid rookie year, and Kevin Johnson quietly led the talented corps with 67 catches. The sky's the limit for this group.

The Browns' defensive unit has undergone a number of offseason changes, including its direct supervisor. Dave Campo will be calling the shots for Davis' defense. Campo and Davis worked together as defensive assistants at the University of Miami and also under Jimmy Johnson in Dallas.

Andra Davis and Barry Gardner are the top linebackers. Only problem is they're both going after the starting middle linebacker’s job, but coaches may move one of them outside. Big things are expected from the newcomer Gardner. He may not be very big, but Gardner had four mildly impressive seasons in Philly, where the coaching staff praised his approach, regardless of whether he was backing up Jeremiah Trotter or starting outside. Gardner is also known to work hard on special teams.

Also, expect big things out of DT Alvin McKinley, who appears to be coming into his own. At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, he even managed to block two field goals last season. And Corey Fuller is gone, but expect the Browns' secondary to be about what it was last season: very average.

>> Impact Signing

The Browns' draft may have drawn ire in Cleveland, but you won't find any bashers at SI.com. First-round pick Jeff Faine (center) and second-rounder Chaun Thompson (linebacker) have a strong work ethic and good attitude, and they also both posted outstanding numbers in pre-draft drills. Don't be surprised if they contribute early on in their rookie seasons.

>> Impact Loss

LBs Dwayne Rudd (Bucs), Earl Holmes (Lions) and Jamir Miller (retired) are all gone. But Rudd had done little to prove he deserved to stick around after the infamous helmet toss, Miller had a career-threatening injury and Holmes isn't getting any younger. It was a little surprising the Browns didn't try to re-sign Holmes after releasing him, if only because he was their leading tackler. But $23 million over the projected $75 million salary cap was not a good situation to be in, so something had to give.

>> Fantasy Stud

RB William Green -- He looked to be a big-time bust as he rushed for 161 yards over the first nine games. But he finished the season with a flourish, ripping off five TDs and three 100-yard games, including a 178-yard performance against the Falcons in Week 17. That gives him plenty of momentum heading into the season as he appears to be the only skill position player with any guarantee of regular playing time. If he starts 2003 the way he finished 2002, he could rocket his way up the running back charts.

>> Fantasy Sleeper

RB Jamel White -- Cleveland must have high hopes after re-signing the restricted free agent to a four-year deal this month. While Green has the starting running back job now, White will still get his share of touches, especially on third down. He's a better receiver than Green and would be a candidate for a starting job should anything happen to him.

>> Browns will not make the playoffs because ...

of some serious defensive uncertainty and no clear-cut No. 1 quarterback. Is Tim Couch 100 percent physically? Do fans respect him? Were Holcomb's big games aberrations?