Jaguars dust off Couch, sign former top pick to 2-year deal
Former No. 1 draft pick Tim Couch signed a 2-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday, getting a chance to revive his career as a backup to quarterback Byron Leftwich.
Former No. 1 draft pick Tim Couch signed a 2-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday, getting a chance to revive his career as a backup to quarterback Byron Leftwich.
Couch, the No. 1 overall pick by Cleveland in 1999, hasn't played a down in the NFL since the 2004 preseason.
The contract, which did not include a signing bonus, will pay Couch the veteran minimum of $595,000 this season if he makes the team. He would earn slightly more in 2008.
Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio wanted to take a look at the former Kentucky star, who had shoulder surgery last year. The Jaguars needed another quarterback in training camp because third-stringer Quinn Gray has an ankle injury and is on the physically unable to perform list.
The Jaguars also have backup David Garrard and undrafted rookie Lester Ricard.
Pennridge High product Sam Hollenbach, from Maryland, and Scott Eyster, from Delta State, worked out alongside Couch yesterday, and the Jaguars struck a deal with Couch after a physical.
His 5 years in Cleveland were filled with disappointment. He was sacked often, booed regularly and plagued by elbow trouble.
After leaving the Browns, Couch signed a 1-year deal with Green Bay to be Brett Favre's backup. The Packers didn't work out Couch before signing him to a contract that included a $625,000 bonus, and it seemed to backfire.
Couch was bothered by a sore throwing arm, struggled to grasp the West Coast offense and couldn't even unseat third-string quarterback Craig Nall.
Couch was 11-for-34 for 96 yards and no touchdowns in three preseason games and was cut just before the 2004 season.
He worked out for Chicago and Cincinnati in 2005, but neither team signed him. He worked out for Tennessee, Miami, Pittsburgh and Houston last year.
Noteworthy
* Running back Adrian Peterson agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings, ending the seventh overall draft pick's brief 3-day holdout. Peterson signed a 5-year, $40.5 million deal with $17 million in guaranteed money and is expected to be in pads for the team's practice this morning, meaning he will have missed five training-camp sessions.
* The Indianapolis Colts agreed to terms on a 4-year contract with second-round pick Tony Ugoh, drafted to replace Tarik Glenn, a three-time Pro Bowl left tackle who retired last Tuesday. The rookie's contract is for just less than $4 million with about 50 percent guaranteed, agent Alan Herman said.
* The Denver Broncos re-signed defensive lineman Kenny Peterson, a day after releasing him, because defensive end Carlos Hall failed to report to camp. Peterson is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on steroids and related substances. *