Ex-No. 1 overall draft pick Tim Couch, who has not lived up to expectations, might be a viable QB option for a team in need -- such as the Dolphins.

 

BY JASON COLE

 

jcole@herald.com

 

Tim Couch fakes a handoff, pirouettes left, dashes five steps, gets his feet set under him and launches a perfect spiral some 60 yards downfield.

 

There's nobody in the stands that flank the soccer and track field at the University of Miami on Monday. There are no cheers when the throw lands in the hands of Ric Hensley, Couch's wide receiver back at Leslie County High in Kentucky. Only physical therapist Lisa Kearns and a reporter are paying close attention.

 

Still, Couch smiles broadly. As Hensley notes after jogging back, it's the farthest and prettiest pass Couch has thrown in months, maybe years. Couch's injury-ravaged right shoulder and arm are feeling good again, and the hope of rekindling his NFL career seems to be nearing.

 

Couch looks at Kearns, who is making sure he didn't overextend himself with the throw.

 

''It was the last play before the half, Hail Mary. Had to do it, we had to score'' he jokingly reassures her. When the reporter questions the idea of a Hail Mary pass run off play-action bootleg, Couch smiles slyly.

 

''Oh, the defense bit on it,'' Couch said with light sarcasm. ``We were playing the Browns. They bit.''

 

The question now is whether some team will bite on the idea of signing Couch, the former No. 1 overall pick in 1999 by Cleveland. Specifically, will the Dolphins, a team that figures to be looking under every rock in search of a quarterback between now and the beginning of the 2006 season, take a look at Couch?

 

''We would take a look at any player that we thought could help our team,'' coach Nick Saban said when asked about Couch last week.

 

Clearly, Couch has been looking at them. From his home on the beach in Fort Lauderdale along A1A, Couch said he has watched every Dolphins exhibition game. He also recently worked out for the New York Giants, and agent Tom Condon has feelers with other teams.

 

So far, the Dolphins haven't called. But as Gus Frerotte and A.J. Feeley muddle through a battle to be the starter, the urge gets stronger.

 

WINNING ASPIRATIONS

 

''I want to win. I want to be part of a team again, to get out there and compete, run through that tunnel on Sundays,'' said Couch, who became a father for the first time three weeks ago. ``Look, I know I'm more of a reclamation project right now. That tag of me being a former No. 1 pick is pretty much gone. But a lot of quarterbacks take a while to mature. You look at a Rich Gannon, guys like that.

 

``That label is gone, but I'm still that guy who had that ability to be the No. 1 pick. All I want is a shot.''

 

The intriguing part of this is that Couch, who had 64 touchdowns, 67 interceptions and was sacked 166 times in five seasons, still has the urge to play. He has plenty of money, having made nearly $40 million in contract and endorsements between Cleveland and last season in Green Bay. He and wife Heather are building a new home in Lexington, Ky.

 

He also has plenty of painful memories that most people wouldn't want to endure. There were the humiliations in Cleveland, such as when he broke down in tears under the pressure and criticism he endured from the fans.

 

There also is the real pain he had in his arm. In the summer of 2004, Couch went to throw one day at a park in Lexington with his brother Greg and Hensley. After no more than 10 throws, Couch had to call it a day.

 

Hensley remembers getting back in Couch's truck to leave. As Couch reached for the steering wheel, his right arm shook uncontrollably.

 

''It was weird,'' Hensley said. ``I didn't know how to react. I was just shocked. Here's this guy who is such a great athlete, and his body is doing that.''

 

Couch was in Green Bay two months later, and the problem got worse. He missed 10 practices in three weeks. When he did throw, it was ugly and painful.

 

''I was bouncing hitch passes,'' he said, referring to a relatively short pass. ``My whole arm hurt, and it was numb from the elbow down to my hand. I just figured it was going to get better.''

 

EXTENT OF INJURY

 

No chance. He already had a torn labrum, rotator cuff and biceps muscle from years of bad throwing habits. When Dr. James Andrews went over the damages, Couch thought he was done.

 

But surgery in February went well, and Couch began a 14-step program designed by Andrews. The program is regulated by Kearns, who operates the SportFit Rehabilitation and Training program and has worked with athletes such as Ty Law, Magglio Ordo?ez and Ivan Rodriguez.

 

Part of the process has been to make sure Couch throws correctly. Kearns carries a hand-held video camera to show him the right and wrong moments.

 

''He's to the point that he's doing it the right way about 90 percent of the time, and when he doesn't he has the presence of mind to self-correct,'' said Kearns, who added that Couch is at roughly Stage 12 or 13 of the process.

 

''The idea is to strengthen all the tissue around the arm so that he's strong enough to handle when he has to make the awkward throws required when you play,'' Kearns added.

 

As Couch went through throw after throw Monday, he did all the little things exactly right.

 

He planted his feet and drove through the throw with his shoulders and hips. He displayed plenty of arm strength and consistency.

 

There was just one significant thing missing.

 

Other players.

 

He's working on that.

 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sport...ns/12508528.htm

Thanks but no thanks.

Meanwhile the Dolphins are looking at Rohan Davey and Corey Simon as well.

"All I want is a shot" - Um, you were given ample time in Cle and then couldn't even cut it as a backup in Green Bay.

 

The guy has no heart, maybe if he had some moxie he could be a decent qb but it's not there.

"All I want is a shot" - Um, you were given ample time in Cle and then couldn't even cut it as a backup in Green Bay.

 

The guy has no heart, maybe if he had some moxie he could be a decent qb but it's not there.

922212[/snapback]

 

:blink:

 

He played a full season with a messed up throwing arm for a piece of crap team that couldn't protect him and hasn't been right ever since.

 

I mean, what do you want from the guy? He had crap wideouts, he was getting hit every time he dropped back. He has an arm injury he shouldn't even have been playing with and he didn't say a word, went out and played.

 

He has no heart? I hope this isn't based on him being driven to tears when the Cleveland fans cheered when he got hurt. Classy bunch there.

:blink:

 

He played a full season with a messed up throwing arm for a piece of crap team that couldn't protect him and hasn't been right ever since.

 

I mean, what do you want from the guy? He had crap wideouts, he was getting hit every time he dropped back. He has an arm injury he shouldn't even have been playing with and he didn't say a word, went out and played.

 

He has no heart? I hope this isn't based on him being driven to tears when the Cleveland fans cheered when he got hurt. Classy bunch there.

922219[/snapback]

Their's a**holes wherever you go, cleveland has rough fans but it's not like he's going to be treated as a true savior wherever he goes, he still has to earn back the respect of fans anywhere he goes so if you can't handle a bunch of rough a**holes maybe NFL quarterback is not your job.

 

Not to mention, the two teams that have an interest in him aren't exactly a haven for qb's both are teams that are going to get beaten up on this year and both have below average O - lines. I'm not saying, I expected mvp numbers out of him during his tenure in Cincy but he had to show more than he did, it's not going to get any easier in Miami and NY, so why am I suppose to believe this time will be any different?

62 games

59.8 completion %

64 TD

67 INT

11131 yards

75.1 career rating

 

With no line, running game, and bad receivers for all but his final year.

 

I mean, I don't even like the guy very much, but he's gotten a pretty crappy rap in my opinion.

 

And he WAS concussed during that crying interview. So, it's not like he was thinking straight.

:blink:

 

He played a full season with a messed up throwing arm for a piece of crap team that couldn't protect him and hasn't been right ever since.

 

I mean, what do you want from the guy? He had crap wideouts, he was getting hit every time he dropped back. He has an arm injury he shouldn't even have been playing with and he didn't say a word, went out and played.

 

He has no heart? I hope this isn't based on him being driven to tears when the Cleveland fans cheered when he got hurt. Classy bunch there.

922219[/snapback]

Their's a**holes wherever you go, cleveland has rough fans but it's not like he's going to be treated as a true savior wherever he goes, he still has to earn back the respect of fans anywhere he goes so if you can't handle a bunch of rough a**holes maybe NFL quarterback is not your job.

 

Not to mention, the two teams that have an interest in him aren't exactly a haven for qb's both are teams that are going to get beaten up on this year and both have below average O - lines. I'm not saying, I expected mvp numbers out of him during his tenure in Cincy but he had to show more than he did, it's not going to get any easier in Miami and NY, so why am I suppose to believe this time will be any different?

922266[/snapback]

 

You are a pessimisitc douche bag. I would expect nothing less from Debbie Downer than a stupid rant like this. Hugg makes great points and basically owns your argument with something called FACTS.

 

Learn them.