Couch To Packers A Dead Deal?

[Tom Kessenich]

Couch's demands too rich for Pack
Thursday, May 13, 2004

Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Green Bay Packers still like Tim Couch, but a trade with the Browns now appears unlikely, a source said Wednesday.

The Packers have been unable to reach a contract agreement with the quarterback's agent, Tom Condon.

Couch is seeking either a one-year deal or two-year deal with a significant base salary in 2005, one normally paid to a starter. The Packers do not want to surrender a draft pick for a one-year contract and do not want to pay the high salary in the second year. They have offered a two-year deal worth about $3 million, according to reports.

The major sticking point is that Couch does not want to sit behind Brett Favre for two years. He's more than happy to do it for one. At least six different compromises have been attempted to no avail.

If the two sides had been able to reach an agreement, the Packers would have given the Browns a fifth- or sixth-round pick.

Instead, the Packers have turned their attention to New England free agent Damon Huard, 30. For the past three seasons, Huard has backed up Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady.

If Couch does become the heir apparent to Favre, it is more likely to happen if the Browns release him, making him an unrestricted free agent.

But Browns coach Butch Davis is making no promises he will release Couch after June 1, when they would receive extra cap relief. At the end of minicamp earlier this month, Davis said he might keep Couch as a backup despite his $7.6 million salary for 2004 and $8 million in 2005.