The Associated Press

BEREA, Ohio - Kelly Holcomb will begin the season as Cleveland's starting quarterback after beating out Tim Couch for the job.

Holcomb, a career backup, had been locked in a heated competition since training camp opened with Couch, a four-year starter once called one of the franchise's "cornerstones" who will make $6.2 million this season.

But Coach Butch Davis ended months of debate Sunday by announcing that Holcomb will be his starter when the Browns open the regular season Sept. 7 against Indianapolis.

"It's a gut feeling," Davis said. "I believe Kelly Holcomb should be given the opportunity to start."

Holcomb has outplayed Couch in the Browns' two exhibition games, completing 14 of 21 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns.

The 30-year-old Holcomb may have confirmed what Davis had been planning all along with a dazzling performance in the first half Friday night against Green Bay.

Holcomb led the Browns on TD drives on their first two possessions, and finished 7-of-10 for 166 yards with two TD passes.

Davis decided to open the quarterback competition in January after Holcomb passed for 429 yards in a playoff loss to Pittsburgh. It was the third highest total in NFL postseason history.

Couch, meanwhile, will begin the 2003 season watching from the sideline, something he hasn't had to do - other than when he has been injured - since his first game as a rookie in 1999.

The former No. 1 overall draft pick is 8-of-15 for 68 yards in Cleveland's two exhibition games.

FALCONS: The Atlanta Falcons already have a model for surviving without star quarterback Michael Vick, who'll be out at least six weeks with a broken leg.

Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles won five of their final six regular-season games after quarterback Donovan McNabb went down with a similar injury.

Can the Falcons match that success?

In Atlanta, backup Doug Johnson, who's started only three games in his career, takes over for Vick.

If Vick's out six weeks, he'll miss the first four games of the regular season and return Oct. 5 against Minnesota. He fractured the fibula on the outside of his right leg, down near his ankle. A cast was placed on the leg Saturday night.

If the bones stay aligned, Vick won't have surgery.

In Johnson's lone start last season, a 17-10 victory over the New York Giants, he completed 19 of 25 passes for 257 yards, threw for one touchdown and ran for another.

"You have to realize that I have more experience than all three quarterbacks on this team," he said. "I understand what coach Reeves is trying to do with each play and what this offense means. I try to think like him and do what he would do if he was the quarterback."

REDSKINS: Defensive tackle Brandon Noble is out for the season with a major knee injury, leaving the Washington Redskins scrambling to fill a position that was already very thin.

LIONS: Free-agent defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson signed with Detroit Sunday.

Wilkinson, selected first overall by Cincinnati in the 1994 draft, attended team meetings and was at Detroit's practice Sunday afternoon.

PANTHERS: Carolina linebacker Mark Fields has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease and will miss the entire season, the team said Sunday.

SEAHAWKS: Seattle has suspended contract talks with franchise player Walter Jones, a team spokesman said Sunday.

PACKERS: Green Bay signed veteran Larry Smith on Sunday, giving him a chance at nose tackle after losing Gilbert Brown to a biceps injury last week.

Smith was cut by Jacksonville last week after he came to practice 30 minutes late. He reported to Jaguars camp out of shape and collapsed on the field July 27 because of heat exhaustion.

NFL Calendar

Aug. 26 - Roster cut to maximum of 65 players

Aug. 31 - Roster cut to maximum of 53 players

Sept. 1 - Clubs may establish practice squad of five players

Sept. 4 - Regular season begins - New York Jets at Washington

Oct. 14 - Trading deadline

Oct. 28-30 - NFL fall meeting, Chicago

Dec. 27-28 - Regular season ends

2004

Jan. 3-4 - Wild-card weekend

Jan. 10-11 - Divisional playoffs

Jan. 18 - Conference championships

Feb. 1 - Super Bowl, Houston

Feb. 8 - Pro Bowl, Honolulu

Feb. 18-24 - Scouting combine, Indianapolis

March 28-April 1 - NFL annual meeting, Palm Beach, Fla.

April 24-25 - NFL draft, New York

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