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Sunday, September 22, 2002

Compiled by Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The Browns might have their own Drew Bledsoe-Tom Brady situation gurgling in Cleveland, but Coach Butch Davis has taken a different first step than Bill Belichick did in New England last year.

With starter Tim Couch's arm ailing him, Kelly Holcomb started the first two games for Cleveland and completed 63.8 percent of his passes with five touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 111.0 that is second in the NFL.

Couch's arm is healthy and Davis has returned him to the starting job today.

The Browns selected Couch with the first pick of their rebirth in 1999 and he has been somewhat disappointing. In three years, he has thrown 39 touchdowns, 43 interceptions and has a 74.0 passer rating. They've invested plenty in him.

Couch probably would still bring the Browns a first-round draft choice if they wanted to trade him after the season. But if they play him and he stinks, they won't. If they play him and he does well, they won't want to trade him anyway. If Couch does not play well, Davis will put Holcomb back into the lineup. The Steelers play the Browns at Heinz Field next Sunday.

"I consider their quarterbacks as a No. 1 and No. 1-A when you face a team with Couch or Holcomb behind center," said Everett Withers, who coaches the secondary at Tennessee, Cleveland's opponent today. "There is not a drop-off between the two quarterbacks."

A potential quarterback controversy exists in Cleveland.

Best catch of them all

Plaxico Burress was the second wide receiver drafted in 2000, and he has more receiving yards than the first, Cincinnati's Peter Warrick.

Neither, though, comes close to Seattle's Darrell Jackson, the 80th selection in that draft. Jackson has 1,977 yards on 136 receptions. Burress has 1,302 on 90 and Warrick has 1,297 on 126.

Next time, be a Manning

If Peyton Manning had the courage of his conviction, he would have worn the black high-tops last Sunday in honor of Johnny Unitas anyway.

What, he couldn't afford the $5,000 fine from the No Fun League?

Baltimore's Chris Redmond, with no fanfare beforehand, wore the high-tops and he hardly has the stature of Manning. It took more guts by Redmond, who has a 57.6 passer rating and might soon be benched.

Quick slants

Trivia question: Trent Dilfer's streak, snapped last week, of 15 consecutive winning starts at quarterback is the fourth-longest in the NFL since 1950, including the playoffs. Who are the three quarterbacks with longer streaks? Answer at end.

Linebacker Joey Porter has caught as many passes as wide receiver Plaxico Burress -- two, and he hasn't fumbled one of them away. With his 114 yards in interception returns, Porter is the second-leading pass receiver on the Steelers.

Cleveland defensive end Kenard Lang, who is 6 feet 3 and 285 pounds, after returning Gus Frerotte's fluky interception 71 yards last week: "At the start of the run, I thought I was Carl Lewis. The longer it got, the more I started to think that I was just this big, old fat boy."

Frerotte ultimately brought Lang down. "Did it bother me that the quarterback got me? Not at all," Lang said. "He's the guy who handed me the present."

Five teams use the 3-4 defense this season, but only one has a winning record, New England. The Steelers, Atlanta and Baltimore are 0-2; Houston is 1-1.

Quarterback David Carr was sacked 14 times at Fresno State last year. He's been sacked 15 times in two games with Houston. The record is 104 by the 1986 Eagles, including 72 of Randall Cunningham, the most by one quarterback.

Quarterback Brian Griese can help lead the Broncos to three consecutive victories in the same season for the first time in his five-year career today against Buffalo.

Steve Sidwell, Seattle defensive coordinator, on the Seahawks' soft defense: "Sometimes you're the windshield, other times you're the bug. At this point, unfortunately, we're the bug."

Trivia answer: Jim McMahon (25), Joe Montana (17) and Ken Stabler (16).