The Browns did just about everything wrong with Couch, agreed. But they also WAY overrated his readiness for the NFL coming out of a screwy system at UK. He got the shit beat out of him because of a bad supporting cast, but also because he had no effing clue how to play quarterback in the NFL.
How good could he have been? I just don't know... but wasn't very bright and that's not good.
But you know, Manning was in a similar situation, on a team that was 3-13 the year before and he led them to 3-13 (!), but he survived and they became the winningest team of the past decade starting with the very next year.
I don't think the Browns were wrong to get their quarterback in their first year... but ideally you wouldn't actually PLAY him. Couch could have really benefitted from a year of learning and a better supporting cast, especially the OL, which the Browns never seemed willing to prioritize.
In a perfect world, the Browns would have been able to get an elite QB in the draft this year, the same year they acquired Delhomme as a short-term starter. Second best case, they get him next year so he still could sit for a full season.
I know: Colt McCoy. I just ain't buyin' it.
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