CLEVELAND Tim Couch is ready to mount a comeback

The former starter gained a new perspective during his sideline stint.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Wearing a visor and not a helmet, Tim Couch stood on the sideline for three straight Sundays and watched the Cleveland Browns play.
He didn't particularly care for the view. But it offered him something he never had: a new perspective, and a chance to see the rest of his career more clearly.
"It's definitely been a humbling experience," Couch said.
During four tumultuous seasons as Cleveland's starting quarterback, Couch has experienced every conceivable high and low the NFL can possibly offer. There have been nearly as many sweet victories for Couch as bitter defeats. In the past few months alone, Couch went from being a former No. 1 overall draft pick on the brink of stardom to the league's highest-priced benchwarmer.
A new start
But today, Couch will begin a comeback he never imagined he'd have to make.
With Kelly Holcomb out with a broken right leg and sprained left ankle, Couch will start as the Browns play host to the winless Cincinnati Bengals, who are still seeking their first win under new coach Marvin Lewis.
"I feel confident about getting back out on the field," Couch said. "I feel healthy again. Obviously, I feel well rested and I think I can go out and be really effective."
Couch lost his starting job this summer to Holcomb, a career backup who made the most of his chance last year when Couch broke his leg in the regular season finale against Atlanta.
The demotion crushed Couch, who had overcome an elbow injury and a falling out with booing Cleveland fans to lead the Browns to eight wins last season.
Cast as a backup for the first time in his life was a new low point for the 26-year-old Couch, who admitted that having to watch Holcomb play had been much tougher on him than he had counted on.
To make matters worse, the Browns didn't call on Couch last week in San Francisco despite the fact that Holcomb could hardly move.
"This is about as low as you can get, being the No. 1 pick in the draft and now not even getting in the game," Couch said. "It couldn't get any worse for me. But I think that's a good thing for me because I think I can handle anything that comes to me in the future."
Now, in an ironic twist, Couch is getting the chance to re-claim his job and jump-start his career while Holcomb sits with an injury.
Couch can appreciate Holcomb's situation. He also knows Holcomb can't help but worry that he may never get his job as a starter back.
"That's always in your mind," Couch said. "I know what was in my mind last year when I was hurt. I didn't want to come off the field because if you give the backup a chance and he goes in and plays well, then you never know what can happen.
"That kind of got me where I'm at right now."
Bengals making progress
The Bengals are in a familiar spot, too. They're off to an 0-3 start, the seventh time they've opened that way since 1991. But, this one feels different.
"Completely different," wide receiver Chad Johnson said. "You can sense the difference in that we're competing. We're in our games more. There are things we need to clean up because we have a new coaching staff, but just because you have a new coach doesn't mean everything is going to be completely erased. You have to crawl before you can walk."
They've been close, but Lewis wants more from his team, and he knows it can only come with a first victory.
"We need some reward," Lewis said. "We've worked extremely hard. The players have dedicated themselves and committed themselves and sacrificed and now, we have to make some plays."