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Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch has found himself in the middle of an idyllic love story.
It's the story of a backup quarterback who succeeds beyond expectations to become
the savior in the eyes of the team's fans and media.
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St. Louis' Marc Bulger and Pittsburgh's Tommy Maddox wrote their versions of the story last season. With one very big win over Pittsburgh last Sunday, Couch is one chapter into what he hopes will be his version this season. NFL Tickets
"There's definitely some truth to that," Couch said of fans' infatuation
with their team's backup quarterback. "But when you're given the chance
to get out on the field, you've got to go out and play well and keep the fans
on your side."
In other words, the love story could end abruptly Sunday if he doesn't find
a way to beat the Raiders in front of his home crowd.
That won't be easy considering Couch never has been at his best while playing
at home. In 25 home games, he has won only seven times and thrown 24 interceptions.
Just a year ago, Browns fans turned against their then-starting quarterback.
They booed Couch relentlessly throughout the season and cheered when it looked
as if a concussion might sideline him in a loss to Baltimore. NFL Tickets
Instead, a fractured right fibula ended his season and handed backup Kelly Holcomb
the offensive reins for last season's AFC wild-card game. Holcomb's performance
in that game went a long way toward stripping Couch of the starting job this
season.
"No one likes a situation like that," Cleveland coach Butch Davis
said Wednesday during a teleconference with Bay Area media. "We tried to
handle it as smartly as we possibly could, knowing that inevitably, the way
quarterbacks get injured in this league ... you would eventually need both of
those guys."
Inevitability arrived Sept. 21 when Holcomb broke his leg and sprained his ankle
against the 49ers. Just like that, Couch was back under center. NFL Tickets
Subsequently, Couch lost 21-14 to Cincinnati at home. A week later, he played
the kind of game the Browns had envisioned when they made him the first pick
of the 1999 draft. He orchestrated a 33-13 upset over rival Pittsburgh by going
20-of-25 for 208 yards and two touchdowns plus a rushing touchdown.
Still, as of Wednesday, Davis declined to name his starting quarterback for
Sunday's game, this despite Holcomb still being listed as questionable on the
injury report.
The Associated Press reported Thursday that Couch would make his third consecutive
start, and Raiders coach Bill Callahan said he expects that to be the case.
Some Raiders defensive players say they don't care who starts. NFL Tickets
"Both quarterbacks are pretty much the same, so it doesn't matter one way
or the other," cornerback Charles Woodson said Thursday. "The main
thing with any quarterback is that you have to hit him. If you get pressure
on him, he's going to break."
The key word there is "if."
The Raiders have only seven sacks, two of them by linebacker Bill Romanowski,
who likely will miss his third straight game because of a concussion.
The defensive line also has taken a hit with injuries leaving tackles Dana Stubblefield
and John Parrella, as well as end Sam Williams, all questionable to play Sunday.
On top of that, the Raiders get a quarterback who is fighting for his career
and coming off the kind of game that could dictate his future. NFL Tickets
"I know I have to keep it going," Couch said. "Obviously, this
is definitely a place where I want to be for a long time."