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Couch to the Bengals?

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Hating the environment since 1994
    • Bengals audition former Browns QB Couch

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    By Len Pasquarelli
    ESPN.com

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    Even as the Cincinnati Bengals strive this year to secure the franchise's first division title since 1990, the team may also be peeking ahead a bit to the future.
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    </TD></TR><TR><TD width=2></TD><TD width=65>[SIZE=-2]Couch[/SIZE]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

    Cincinnati on Tuesday auditioned former Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch, the top overall selection in the 1999 draft, ESPN.com confirmed. It does not appear a deal is imminent but, with franchises soon permitted to begin signing future free agents for the 2006 season, the Bengals may have been performing some due diligence.

    Couch, 28, underwent extensive surgery on his right shoulder in February and is believed to be fully recovered. The six-year veteran has not appeared in a regular-season contest since the end of the 2003 campaign.

    The Bengals' quarterback depth chart is currently solid, with emerging star Carson Palmer as the starter, experienced veteran Jon Kitna as the primary backup and second-year pro Craig Krenzel in the No. 3 spot. But Kitna, a nine-year veteran whose résumé includes 79 career starts, is eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring and could attract several suitors if he opts not to remain in Cincinnati behind Palmer.

    If Kitna were to depart, the Bengals would probably seek an experienced quarterback to replace him, and Couch might be a candidate.

    In five seasons with the Browns, who made him the top pick in 1999, Couch completed 1,025 of 1,714 passes for 11,131 yards, with 64 touchdown passes and 67 interceptions for a 75.1 passer-efficiency rating in 62 appearances, with 59 starts. The former University of Kentucky star was released in the spring of 2004 and signed with the Green Bay Packers but was cut toward the end of camp, after his shoulder problems precluded him from getting much preseason work.

    Couch filed an injury grievance against the Packers, subsequently settled it and then underwent February surgery to repair tears to his rotator cuff, labrum and biceps. This summer, Couch told ESPN.com that he would be willing to accept even a No. 3 job on a depth chart just to get back into the league. Money will not be a factor for Couch, who has already earned $33 million in bonuses and salaries and approximately $5 million in endorsements during his career.

    Teams can begin signing free agents for 2006 on Jan. 2, one day after the end of the 2005 regular season.

    Ironically, the last regular-season game in which Couch appeared was at Cincinnati on Dec. 28, 2003; he completed 9-of-18 passes for 115 yards in a Browns victory.
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    If Couch is fully recovered from his shoulder problems I think he'll be a good backup. With Ken Zampese to tutor him and assuming he can pick up Bratkowski's offense, I think he could fit in pretty well. I always thought he got a raw deal in Cleveland. It's not his fault Chris Palmer was a lousy coach. Heck, he just got fired by the TEXANS!!!
     
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    I think that Tim Couch isn't necessarily a bad QB, like many people said he was. Couch played with a bad team, in the Browns, and was hit way too much. It kind of reminds me of David Carr, a little bit. Two QB's with promising futures, that were beat up early in their careers, and never reached their full potential. I believe that the Texans will get an offensive line in the near future, and Carr will be able to show what he is made of. I wish Couch the best, though. Unfortunately for him, he'd never start a game with the Bengals because Palmer is one of the top QB's in the NFL, and don't they have Jon Kitna, still?
     
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    Man I can't believe all the Couch haters. If he wouldnt of had the elbow troubles he had, and would of had anything resembling an o-line and a rb he would still be Quaterbacking the Browns.

    He took Cleveland to the playoffs(how often does that happen) when he didnt have a whole lot to work with. It wasnt his fault he was getting sacked everyother play.
     
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    On one hand, it would be nice to see him do well, after all, before he was drafted, he said he didn't want to go to cleveland. the guy can't be all that bad.:biggrin:

    On the other hand, it's Tim Couch. :(
     
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    I choose to look at this from an optimistic viewpoint. This is yet another example of how far the Bengals have come. It wasn't all that long ago that the Bengals had worked out an out of shape Major Harris to be a back up QB. Who Dey!
     
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    I rather hope (against all reasonable probability) that they can arrange an end-of-career contract with Kitna. Proven commodity, knows every in and out of the offense.

    As for Couch, great college career, has never lived up to his potential in his pro career. Despite a likely green light on physical health there is the whole issue of his mental toughness - on which criterion Kitna or Krenzel has him trumped in Spades.
     
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    With the emergence of Palmer, I think they expect Kitna to go elsewhere for his next (and probably last) contract where he might get a chance to start. So it sounds like they are looking ahead here for his replacement.

    Not sure what to think of Couch. Apparently he was a system QB at Kentucky, but on the other hand Chris Palmer didn't do a good job helping him at the NFL level and then he got a lot of crap because he didn't live up to Browns fans idea of their savior.

    But I trust Marvin Lewis to make the right decision. He's done a hell of a job so far.
     
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    As a Browns fan I have always thought that once Couch recovers from his injuries that he will become a serviceable backup and maybe one of those late bloomers like Rich Gannon if he catches lightning in a bottle.

    I don't know where this mentally tough knock comes from. Maybe it was because he got mentally and physically crushed for years in Cleveland due to no offensive line and no talent around him.
     
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    TraderLee said:
    With the emergence of Palmer, I think they expect Kitna to go elsewhere for his next (and probably last) contract where he might get a chance to start. So it sounds like they are looking ahead here for his replacement.

    Not sure what to think of Couch. Apparently he was a system QB at Kentucky, but on the other hand Chris Palmer didn't do a good job helping him at the NFL level and then he got a lot of crap because he didn't live up to Browns fans idea of their savior.

    But I trust Marvin Lewis to make the right decision. He's done a hell of a job so far.
    Click to expand...

    Chicago would be wise to give Kitna a shot. I always liked Couch and if he is healthy I wouldn't have a problem with him being the back up QB for my team. He has experience and some success, which is more than most backups. The Browns fucked up Couch's career more than anything else.
     
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