Packers to speak with Couch

[LoKyBuckeye]

Sears.... found this to be a good sign for the Pack

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7204133

Packers ask Browns to speak with Couch
March 24, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports

The Green Bay Packers have been granted permission by Cleveland to talk with quarterback Tim Couch, whose days with the Browns appear to be dwindling.


Browns spokesman Todd Stewart said Wednesday that the Packers called requesting a chance to speak with Couch and Cleveland gave its approval. Packers spokesman Aaron Popkey said the team had no comment.

Couch's five-year stint with the Browns effectively ended earlier this month when the club signed free-agent quarterback Jeff Garcia to a four-year deal.

The Browns told Couch's agent, Tom Condon, he could discuss a deal outside the AFC North for his client. Stewart said the Packers were the first team to call.

Green Bay could be looking for a backup and potential successor to Brett Favre, who is nearing the end of his career and has hinted in the past about retiring. The Packers' current backup is journeyman Doug Pederson, and Couch would be a significant upgrade.

Couch, though, just wants a fresh start and a chance to play after being replaced by Garcia.

Couch's rocky tenure in Cleveland came to a crashing end when the Browns did an about-face and dropped contract talks with him to pursue Garcia.

Couch was caught off guard by the Browns' sudden disinterest in him. He had turned down an offer to restructure his $15.6 million contract over the next two years when the club asked him to take a 58 percent pay cut.

The low offer was another blow to Couch, who after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 draft by Cleveland, had survived five difficult years with the Browns.

He has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Cleveland fans, who have never seemed to decide whether they liked Couch or not. Last season, Couch lost his starting job to Kelly Holcomb but got it back when Holcomb got hurt and then struggled.

Browns coach Butch Davis seemed intent on bringing back Couch as his starter next season when he suddenly became enamored with Garcia, who was released last month by San Francisco when he refused to take a pay cut with the 49ers.

After Garcia signed with Cleveland, Davis asked Couch if was interested in staying on as a backup. Couch said no and told Davis he wanted to go to another team.



AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

 

[LoKyBuckeye]

More info.....

www.jsonline.com/packer/n...217061.asp

Packers might sit on Couch
Team would prefer to wait until after draft
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
[email protected]
Posted: March 24, 2004

First it was Billy Volek. Now it's Tim Couch.

The Green Bay Packers are covering all their bases in the pursuit of a quarterback who might someday replace Brett Favre in the starting lineup.

While on a scouting trip that is expected to bring him to the Miami (Ohio) University campus Thursday to scout highly touted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Packers coach Mike Sherman stopped in to see Couch, the No. 1 pick in the 1999 draft.

Still a member of the Cleveland Browns, Couch is on the trading block following the Browns' acquisition of former San Francisco 49ers starter Jeff Garcia. The Browns gave the Packers permission to negotiate a deal with Couch in anticipation of a trade.

Sherman and members of his personnel staff were unavailable for comment.

The likelihood of a deal being completed soon is slim because the Packers would prefer to wait until after the draft before making a move on Couch. If they are unable to draft a quarterback, they would pursue Couch.

The Browns want to make a deal right away so they can obtain a draft pick they can use this year. If the Browns aren't able to trade Couch - and there aren't many teams interested in dealing for him - they are expected to release him after June 1.

The only reason the Packers would trade for him is so they can avoid having to compete with other teams for his services after he is released. Before the Packers can make a trade, they would need to renegotiate the final two years of Couch's contract, which call for him to earn base salaries of $7.6 million and $8 million.

It would probably cost the Packers a low-round pick to obtain Couch.

Couch's agent, Tom Condon, is seeking to land his client with a team that would have an opening in the starting lineup relatively soon. Sherman's discussion with Couch probably had a lot to do with how long Favre intended to play.

It's unlikely Sherman could answer that question, just as he couldn't when Volek, the Tennessee Titans backup, made a free agent visit earlier this month. Condon might try to place Couch with a team whose quarterback position is less settled.

The Browns have asked Couch to take a pay cut to $3 million a year, but he has refused.

Couch's tenure in Cleveland has been marred by injury and failure. Since coach Butch Davis took over in 2001, Couch's career has gone downhill and he wound up sharing the starting position with Kelly Holcomb most of last year.

In five seasons, he has a career passer rating of 75.1 and has thrown three more interceptions (67) than touchdowns.

Still, there are some people in the NFL who think a change of scenery and a new offense would serve him well.

"The guy can play that offense (in Green Bay)," said a personnel official for an NFL team. "He's a good athlete."

Besides Favre, the only other quarterback on the Packers' roster is third-year pro Craig Nall. The Packers have not ruled out re-signing backup Doug Pederson if they are unable to obtain a free agent or draft pick.

Meeting in the middle
Rather than allow an arbitrator to rule on a grievance former Packers linebacker Nate Wayne filed against the team for payment of a $750,000 bonus due last March, the two sides reached a settlement.

Packers vice president of player finance Andrew Brandt said the settlement was reached before the scheduled hearing Monday. He would not divulge the details.

"We reached an amicable settlement," Brandt said. "Terms are confidential."

Wayne's agent, Harold Lewis, declined to comment.

The Packers were forced to carry $375,000 of the bonus on their salary cap last season while the grievance was pending. If they had lost the grievance, they would have had to pay the entire $750,000 to Wayne and count another $375,000 against the cap this year.

Wayne claimed the Packers released him after the roster bonus was due.

 

[coastalbuck]

How great would it be to go from Cleveland to Green Bay? That's like playing at Bushwood and going to Augusta!

 

[RAMdrvr1]

The Packers need to know something before they talk with him, tho.

One grunt means yes; two grunts means no.

 

[DEBuckeye]

I'm a huge Packers fan, and this is driving me nuts. They're looking at Tim Couch to be the guy to take over for Favre? You've got to be kidding me!!!

Note to Mike Sherman- put down the lighter, and step away from the crack pipe.

 

[LoKyBuckeye]

Couch could be an excellent QB with the right coaching and supporting cast around him. Giving him 3 or 4 years to learn under Favre would do wonders for him. A line can block and outstanding running game..... that's what he hasn't had in Cleveland.

I'm not saying that he could come in and be MVP of the league but given the chance I think he'll surprise alot of people. On the down side... whoever takes over for Favre is going to be under TREMENDOUS pressure (even if it isn't Timmy).

 

[sears3820]

Don't even get me started on the topic, ain't that right RAMdrvr1?

 

[RAMdrvr1]

Right, Lord Sears.

 

[LoKyBuckeye]

Couch visits Green Bay

http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2004/04/07/1/

Couch Sees Potential Future In Green Bay

by Jason Bellamy, Packers.com
posted 04/07/2004

Many obstacles still remain before the prospect of Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch becoming the potential heir to Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre can become a reality.

But after meeting with Packers coaches and staff Tuesday night and most of Wednesday, Couch said his visit to team headquarters this week, which was approved by the Browns, did nothing to suggest that his future lies elsewhere.

"I just wanted to come here and see the facilities, meet the coaching staff and get just a quick orientation of the (Packers) offense," Couch said. "Everything that I wanted to hear and everything that I wanted to see here was covered ...

"I think this system fits me really well. I've always wanted to run the West Coast system. I always thought it would be a good fit for me, so I'm really looking forward to it if I get a chance to play here."

Before that can happen, the Packers and Couch not only have to come to terms on a new contract, but potentially need to arrange a trade with the Browns, perhaps for a draft choice.

Couch said he was unsure how soon a trade like that could be reached between the two organizations, but said he thought there was a "really good chance" a deal could eventually be arranged, even if not until after the NFL Draft, April 24-25.

As for the Packers, pro personnel director Reggie McKenzie said that the team's "interest in acquiring Tim Couch remains very positive," but noted that "there are still other factors that need to be worked out."

If a deal were to be arranged, Couch, who was almost immediately thrust into the starting role in Cleveland after being the first overall selection of the 1999 draft, would be relegated to back-up duty in Green Bay. But the 26-year-old acknowledged that the positives of a future starting role with the Packers could outweigh the negatives of an immediate spot on the sideline.

"I've been fortunate enough to play a lot so far," Couch said. "I have a lot of experience in the league, but I'm still young. I have time to learn the game, sit back and watch a guy like Brett, and be ready to go when I get my chance."

Making 59 starts over his five years in the league, Couch has completed 59.8 percent of his passes (1,025 of 1,714) for 11,131 yards and 64 touchdowns, with 67 interceptions.

The Browns' signing of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia this spring was an indication the team was going in another direction, which is something Couch hopes to do as well.

"I'm really looking forward to a fresh start," Couch said. "I'm looking for a change of scenery and (Green Bay) is a place I think I can be more successful, be on a better team and do some better things."

Doug Pederson, who is an unrestricted free agent, has been the Packers' No. 2 quarterback behind Favre the past two seasons, with 2002 fifth-round draft pick Craig Nall holding down the third spot over that span.

It's unknown exactly how many more seasons the 34-year-old Favre will decide to play, but Couch said backing up the three-time NFL MVP, who has played 210 consecutive games, would have its benefits.

"That's going to be an adjustment," Couch said of the reserve role. "I'm used to playing and starting. But I think this is a unique situation. This is Brett Favre and he's one of the all-time greats. He's one of my all-time favorite players.

"I'd just be looking forward to working with him and picking his brain, learning a little bit from him and just watching the way he operates on a day-to-day basis."

Last season, Favre was the NFL leader with 32 touchdown passes and was voted to his eighth Pro Bowl.

 

[sears3820]

Good stuff LoKy.


I'm liking the sounds of it....