Couch trip
QB hopes this Cleveland visit wasn't his last
Posted: Friday February 19, 1999 01:01 AM
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Couch: "I'm going to have to wait this out, but hopefully I'll persuade them to take me."
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CLEVELAND (AP) - The Browns are still Tim Couch's No. 1 pick.
Couch, who announced last month he was leaving Kentucky early for a
chance to become the top pick in the NFL draft, said he did so because he
wanted to play in Cleveland.
Nothing, not even the Browns' uncertainty with what they'll do with
the first overall selection, has changed the All-American quarterback's
mind.
"I really like Cleveland," he said Thursday. "It's a working-class
city and that's what I'm used to."
Couch was in town to accept an award from the Cleveland Touchdown Club
as its 1998 college player of the year. He was to receive the trophy at an
evening banquet, but because of overwhelming interview requests, the
Touchdown Club held an afternoon news conference.
It was merely coincidence, but Couch holding his award with a brown
and orange banner complete with Browns helmet and the initials TC was kind
of funny.
"Hopefully, this is not my last trip to Cleveland," Couch said.
Along with more than 300 other potential NFL hopefuls, Couch is on his
way to Indianapolis for this week's scouting combine. However, he won't be
working out there.
Instead, Couch will hold his own personal workout in Lexington, Ky.,
on March 11.
"I just think it's going to be a better environment for me to work out
privately," he said.
Couch has been plotting his strategy for the Browns like he used to
prepare for facing Alabama's defense. Using four Wildcat wide receivers,
including Craig Yeast, a potential high-round draft pick himself, Couch
plans to throw everything he's got at Browns coach Chris Palmer, football
operations director Dwight Clark and whomever else makes the trip down from
Cleveland.
"We're going to go out and try and put on a good show for them," Couch
said. "I'll try and show them exactly what they want to see. We've been
going over our game plan like we're preparing for a game." The knock on
Couch by the so-called draft experts is his arm strength. He rarely got a
chance to throw deep down the field while at Kentucky, but he's sure he can
air it out far enough to play in the NFL.
During his workout, Couch, who compared his playing style to Green
Bay's Brett Favre, said
he'll show the Browns he can throw the deep ball over the middle. He's
going to throw the 15-yard out. He'll roll out. He'll drop back. He'll do
whatever it takes to make the Browns believe in him.
"I've been preparing for this for about 18 years," he said. "I'm just
going to go out there and not press and be the player I know that I am."
Couch knows the Browns could decide to take Texas running back Ricky
Williams with their No. 1 pick, or they could trade the selection.
"There's always a chance that could happen," he said. "A lot can
happen between now and April 17th. I'm going to have to wait this out, but
hopefully I'll persuade them to take me."
Couch said he's been monitoring the Browns rebirth, and has been
impressed with what the expansion team has done so far. He was glued to the
TV on the day of the expansion draft.
"Oh yeah, I watched all that," he said. "I think it's been great.
They've already got a really good offensive line in place."
The Browns have been shopping for a veteran quarterback, and could be
bringing in 42-year-old Warren Moon for a visit next
week. Couch understands that spending a year as an understudy could be
helpful.
"If they do bring in a veteran it can do nothing but help me," he
said. "But just for competition, I'd like to be on the field and learn on
the run. But if they want me to sit that would be fine."
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