National Football League coach Butch Davis kept a promise to choose his starting quarterback before the Cleveland Browns third preseason game, and he surprised many by naming journeyman Kelly Holcolm as the starter ahead of Tim Couch.
Davis said Sunday the coaching staff believed Holcolm earned the starting job over Couch, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 National Football League draft. Many believed Couch, the team's starter since he was drafted, would get preferential treatment because of his $6.2 million dollar salary this season.
Holcomb strengthened his case in the first two exhibition games, completing 7 of 11 passes for 71 yards in the first game, then and 7 of 10 for 166 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-31 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday.
Couch was 4 of 7 for 51 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Green Bay after completing 4 of 8 for 17 yards in the first preseason game.