CLEVELAND (AP) -- Sometime during the Cleveland Browns' seemingly endless quarterback drama, Butch

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Sometime during the Cleveland Browns' seemingly endless quarterback drama, Butch Davis used a boxing analogy to make a point.
The Browns coach implied that career backup Kelly Holcomb probably needed a knockout of starter Tim Couch to win the starting job.
Holcomb didn't flatten Couch, but he may have outpointed him to win a split decision.
In his last chance to sway Davis, Holcomb directed the Browns on touchdown drives in the first quarter while outplaying Couch -- and Green Bay's Brett Favre -- in Cleveland's 38-31 loss Friday night to the Packers.
Taking his time
Davis said he would spend Saturday reviewing and grading film before coming to a decision on who he'll start in the Sept. 7 opener against Indianapolis.
"We'll get everybody's feelings about how everything's gone in training camp," he said. "We'll sit down as an organization, as a staff and make a decision."
There's a lot riding on it.
If Holcomb gets the job, Couch, a four-year starter set to make $6.2 million in 2003, would become one of the most expensive bench warmers in league history.
Couch, who won eight games a year ago before being injured, has said all the right things about being the supportive backup to Holcomb. But that could change if Davis sits him down.
Earlier this week, Couch said he didn't think both quarterbacks would be in Cleveland next year.
If Couch holds onto his job, Davis is going to have to persuade a sizable contingent of Browns fans -- and maybe some of his players -- that he made the right choice.
Holcomb has become a favorite with Cleveland fans, who sometimes boo Couch more loudly than they do the hated Pittsburgh Steelers.
Either way, Davis will be second guessed.
"It's going to be a tough situation for whoever is not the guy," Couch said. "Because both guys deserve it."
There's some truth to that.
Defensive letdowns
But by the looks of preseason, the Browns are going to have a rough year on defense and may need to score often if they plan on returning to the playoffs.
That being the case, Davis may decide Holcomb is his guy.
After all, Davis only decided to open the quarterback competition after Holcomb threw for 429 yards -- third most in NFL playoff history -- in a 36-33 shootout with Pittsburgh's Tommy Maddox in January.
Cleveland's offense operates more efficiently with Holcomb. That's partly because Holcomb, who followed Browns offensive coordinator Bruce Arians over from Indianapolis, has more experience in the system and is more willing to gamble by throwing the ball downfield.
Holcomb has only been conservative when talking about his chances of unseating Couch.
"I don't know what the decision will be," he said. "You have to prepare yourself to be the starter or to be the backup. But it's all about winning games."