Monday, April 12, 1999Browns suggest they'll trade No. 1 pick
Team officials more impressed with Couch after Sunday workout
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerLEXINGTON, Ky. — A sweat-soaked Tim Couch threw 115 passes in 90 minutes for the Cleveland brain trust here Sunday. But all he seemed to do was throw the Browns into a quandary with the NFL draft five days away.
Before an audience, including owner Al Lerner, at the University of Kentucky, Couch was sharper and looser than in last month's session and helped his bid to become Cleveland's and the league's No. 1 pick.
But Browns President Carmen Policy emerged talking about trading the first pick, director of football operations Dwight Clark wondered about Couch's mechanics and head coach Chris Palmer said Oregon quarterback Akili Smith and Couch are even heading down the stretch.
“(Texas running back) Ricky Williams is still in the running, too,” Palmer said. “Now we have to go into the bunker and evaluate all the information we have. Hopefully by Saturday we can get that done.”
With no clear favorite, the Browns reportedly plan to contact the agents for the three players today to begin negotiations.
But they may not have the pick for long. Policy wouldn't hide that the Browns are intrigued by the Saints' offer to trade the 12th pick for the 1st pick in order to get Williams in exchange for a batch of picks this year and next. Clark is to talk with the Saints this week and the Cincinnati Bengals would love to eavesdrop.
The Bengals want Smith, Couch, or Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb with the No. 3 pick. If Williams goes No. 1, they may have to choose between Smith and Couch with McNabb possibly gone at No. 2.
“Something dramatic could be forthcoming that has a huge impact on us, ” said Policy, expectig many offers before the draft. “I don't know if it's going to go down to 11:55 Saturday (morning), but I think it's going down to 11:55 Friday night.
“We're now in a position we're not looking to win the division in 1999 or go to the playoffs,” Policy said. “If you get that blockbuster trade that gives you a combination of picks presently and in the future that can really set you up for the next 12 years, I think we're very foolish not to give serious consideration to that alternative.”
Palmer said he still wants to study other elements about the players before making a call, such as where they expect to live, how they'll handle a huge signing bonus and how committed they will be to the game.
But Palmer, who snapped the ball to Couch and watched him throw, admitted the Couch he saw Sunday was the one he didn't see last month. He also judged Couch's arm strong enough for the Lake Erie winds: “He was more relaxed. He wasn't pressing. I felt like I saw the real Tim Couch today and I feel good about that.”
But there's no question Palmer has high regard for Smith. He's a player the Browns believe won't need as much mechanical coaching as Couch. Smith, with 2.5 years of pro baseball under his belt, turns 24 in August and Palmer believes he can't help but be more mature than Couch or Williams.
“You're trying to project,” Palmer said. “Tim's coming out of school a year early ... From Akili, what you see is what you're going to get. I don't know what you're going to get from Couch two years from now.”
Couch and his agent, Tom Condon, were upbeat after Couch ran a solid 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash and held up under the 115 passes, 40 more than Smith threw in a workout that dazzled the Browns. Palmer said he needed the extra throws because he only had two receivers and some throws had to be made to a standing target.
But Couch didn't mind. He made it clear he wants to go to Cleveland.
“My last couple of throws were pretty hard, they had a lot of velocity,” Couch said. “I did get winded. That's a lot of drop (backs). I think my arm stayed in really good shape.”
Although the Browns aren't enamored with his mechanics, Couch said he believes those are small problems that could be ironed out in a day or two. Such as opening his hips in front of his arm while moving to the left.
“He (Palmer) could make me a tremendous player,” Couch said.
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