How Acquired: First selection in 1999 NFL draft

Pro Experience
Cleveland Browns (1999-present )
2003: Started the season as a back-up to Kelly Holcomb... Emerged by the end of the season as the starting quarterback once more... Had an incredible game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, completing 20 of 25 passes (80%, career high)... Was on bench for first three games... Surpassed 10,000 yards passing, ranking fifth on Browns all-time list... Sprained thumb against Patriots, returning Holcomb to starting job... Returned as starting QB against Rams following Holcomb's ineffectiveness... 
2002: Recorded 18 passing touchdowns (career high) despite not appearing in two games... Injured forearm in preseason and didn't appear until third game against Tennessee, completing 36 of 50 passes in Browns win and gaining AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors... Played a major role in getting Browns to playoffs, but injured right fibula in finale, missing the post-season... Had a streak of 122 passes without an INT...
2001: Started all sixteen games and threw for 3,045 yards (career high)... 454 attempts was also a career high... Led the Browns to a thrilling come-from-behind win against Chargers with ten fourth quarter points... Threw for three touchdowns against Detroit in 24-14 win...
2000: Had an abbreviated season, injuring thumb in practice on 10/19/00... Started seven games prior to that point... Was ranked second in the AFC in QB Rating at the time of his injury... Threw for over 200 yards in four of the seven games he started...
1999: Became starting quarterback in game two of the season... Scored first touchdown for the new Browns on a 39-yard strike to Kevin Johnson... Was harassed and sacked frequently behind a makeshift offensive line... 56-yard "Hail Mary" TD pass to Kevin Johnson against the Saints as time expired provided the expansion Browns first victory... Had the longest run from scrimmage by a Browns QB in history - 40 yards against the St. Louis Rams...

College Experience
Kentucky (1996-1998)
Left after his Junior year for the NFL... Owned all Kentucky passing records, throwing for 8,835 yards in only 24 games... Named to numerous All-American teams his junior year... Finished fourth in the Heisman voting for 1998... Had more completions (400) his junior season than anyone else in college football... Sophomore season was second-team All-SEC... Led the nation in numerous passing categories as a sophomore... Finished ninth for the Heisman as a sophomore... Started two games as a freshman...

Contract Status: The Browns picked up a four year option on Tim Couch's contract early in 2002. The option included an $8.75 million signing bonus, which is pro-rated over the four-years of the contract. Couch's base salary for 2003 was $6.2 million.