BROWNS TRAINING CAMP Couch-Holcomb QB duel assumes center spotlight

Their teammates opened camp with politically-correctsupport.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BEREA -- Kevin Johnson says he doesn't care who plays quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
"As long as he throws to 85, I don't care," the fifth-year wideout said. "It can be [Josh] Booty under there."
Andre Davis says he doesn't care who plays quarterback for the Browns.
"They've both shown they can get the job done," the second-year wideout said. "You guys are pretty much looking for me to say something crazy, but I'm going to stay pretty political."
William Green says he doesn't care who plays quarterback for the Browns.
"I think it will be whoever it should be," the second-year running back said. "Who am I betting on? The best. I'm betting on the best."
Shaun O'Hara says ... OK, you get the idea.
And if you think the quarterback controversy between Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb grew tiresome in the offseason, it's only going to get worse. (One thing is certain -- Booty, the third string quarterback, won't contend for the job.)
"I knew it was coming," Couch said. "I just try not to get fed up with the questions. I'm just trying to keep a good attitude."
So far, so good.
Incumbent
Couch, the top pick in the 1999 draft, struggled last season with injuries, inconsistency and a fickle fan base that is no longer satisfied just to have a team. They want a championship.
And, to many, Holcomb is the guy who can lead them there.
"They always say the backup quarterback is the most loved player on the team," Holcomb, a seven-year veteran, said. "I don't know about that. If I throw a couple picks, they might run out of patience with me."
Before last season, Holcomb was a career backup just trying to keep a spot and Couch was a future star waiting for his breakout season.
But when Couch injured his elbow just before the season opener, Holcomb got his first opportunity to show what he could do.
After that, everything changed.
Holcomb played well in four regular season games, then broke out in the AFC Wild Card game in Pittsburgh, throwing for 429 yards and three touchdowns before the Steelers rallied for a 36-33 victory.
"But we didn't win the football game," Holcomb said. "We played well offensively, but we didn't score enough points to win."
Impressed coach
Still, it was enough to impress Coach Butch Davis -- and everyone else. Davis declared an open competition coming into training camp, which started Friday.
It was a big break in strategy. For the first time in Davis' tenure, the quarterback position isn't set.
"I think competition makes the team better," Holcomb said. "I don't think it's a negative. We have to be professional about it and we have to be mature about it."
Couch agreed.
"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "Competition gets the juices flowing a little bit. I'm just going to approach this the same as every camp. I'm going to play as well as I can and try to play my game."
Of course, there's more to it than that. In addition to the competition on the field, both players will also have to deal with scrutiny from fans and reporters.
"You know it's coming," Holcomb said. "And you do try to think of how you're going to answer certain things."
Is that annoying?
"It's part of what happens," he said. "You expect it."
Salaries
Couch makes more than $6 million per year, while Holcomb pulls in just more than $1 million. Some have wondered whether that gives Couch the edge, but Browns president Carmen Policy insists money has nothing to do with who plays.
"It doesn't matter what he makes," Policy said. "Our salary is set. We're going to pay $7 million no matter who plays. We're rooting for the player who wins football games."
For now, both players are doing their best not to let the controversy hurt the team -- or their friendship.
"Tim and I are friends," Holcomb said. "That's going to last longer than football."
Added Couch, "I think it's made us closer."
And since Davis has repeatedly said that he won't declare a winner until late in the exhibition season, the controversy isn't going anywhere for a while.
That's fine with them.
"The great thing about this team is that there is competition at every position," said O'Hara, an offensive lineman. "Ultimately, that's going to make us better."
scalzo@vindy.com