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Money could be factor in Browns' choice of QB next year

Browns not giving in to Suggs, Northcutt BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- The Browns aren't prepared to give rookie running back Lee Suggs or wide receiver Dennis Northcutt the contracts they want. Browns president Carmen Policy said Tuesday that the team which plays host Friday night to Green Bay wants to sign Suggs, its fourth-round draft pick, to a five-year deal. Policy dismissed the possibility that Suggs would sit out the season and re-enter the draft next year because he was frustrated by the team's insistence on a five-year deal. "I don't think that's a reality," Policy said. Suggs had shoulder surgery shortly after the draft. Policy said the Browns have not seen him since the last minicamp ended about two months ago and aren't sure how far along he is in his rehabilitation. Policy said he didn't know if Suggs would be able to begin practicing immediately if he were signed. A message requesting comment was left with Suggs' agent, Joel Segal. Policy also said Tuesday that the club would like to sign Northcutt, one of the team's most valuable offensive weapons last season, to a long-term deal. Northcutt will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. His agent, Jerome Stanley, wants more than what the Browns re-signed Kevin Johnson for last season -- a four-year, $13.35 million extension, including a $3.5 million signing bonus. "Dennis is better than Kevin Johnson," Stanley said Tuesday. "Dennis has more value in the National Football League." Policy said the Browns couldn't offer Northcutt that kind of money. "Kevin Johnson is the high-water mark for our receivers," Policy said. "I don't think you can make the argument that we have anyone as productive as he has been at that position." Northcutt had 38 receptions for 601 yards and five touchdowns last year. He also had a 36-yard touchdown run and was third in the league in punt returns with a 14.7-yard average and two touchdowns. Johnson has led the Browns in receptions the last four seasons. His best year came in 2001, when he had 84 catches for 1,097 yards and nine touchdowns. Last year, he had 67 receptions for 703 yards and four touchdowns. Stanley said he didn't expect to agree on a contract with the Browns. "I'm not optimistic," he said. "I think they've decided to let Dennis Northcutt go."

BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- The Cleveland Browns may not be able to afford a quarterback controversy next year.

Browns president Carmen Policy said Tuesday that while money isn't an issue this year, it would be tough to pay Tim Couch $7.6 million next season if he were the backup to Kelly Holcomb.

"That would not be difficult this year," Policy said. "But it might be next year."

Policy's comments come days before Browns head coach Butch Davis' final evaluation of the quarterbacks in Friday's preseason game against Green Bay. He has said he will choose a starter by the Aug. 23 preseason game at Detroit.

Policy said he didn't know which quarterback Davis will pick, then added, "I hope he doesn't come under too much heat when he finally makes his decision."

Like Davis, who said a day earlier that he had more pressing decisions than choosing a starting quarterback, Policy is looking forward to a resolution of the quarterback derby.

"I think the competition has been healthy," Policy said. "But the time has come for the issue to be settled and the man who is going to be our quarterback, to begin settling into that role."

Couch, drafted No. 1 overall in 1999, has the fourth-highest base salary in the NFL for this season at $6.2 million. His salary cap figure is $7.86 million, including the 2003 portion of the $8.75 million bonus he received when the Browns picked up the option on the last four years of his contract.

Couch's base salary will be $7.6 million in 2004 and $8 million in 2005, the final year of the original seven-year, $59 million contract. His cap figure for 2004 is slated to be $9.26 million.

Holcomb, whose base salary is $875,000, would be a much cheaper option.

If Couch is going to be around in 2004, he's going to have to put up better numbers than he did in his first four pro seasons -- 57 touchdowns, 61 interceptions and a quarterback rating of 76.8.

Policy acknowledged that the Browns need to expect more than that from a player who will take up more than 11 percent of the team's $75 million cap in 2003. The Browns, even in Policy's opinion, are not in great cap shape.

"Our cap situation will be better next year," Policy said.

Policy said the Browns quarterback controversy is different from the one the San Francisco 49ers went through a decade ago with Joe Montana and Steve Young when he was president of the 49ers.

"Neither one of our quarterbacks here has won a Super Bowl. They've not won a championship and they don't even have any playoff wins," Policy said. "We're not dealing with icons."

Policy said Couch and Holcomb have handled the competition professionally.

"What's important is that neither of our quarterbacks has made an attempt to turn this issue into something that would separate the locker room," Policy said. "What we have here are two good guys who understand the game and trust the coach."

 

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