This is the first of several stories that will appear periodically under the theme of "I played quarterback for the Cleveland Browns." Tim Couch is the leadoff man. He was the first pick of the Cleveland Browns after they returned in 1999.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "Just curious, do you watch Browns games?"

That was my first question to Tim Couch.

"Every week," he said.

"You watch the Browns every week?" I repeated.

"Every week," said Couch. "I'm a Browns fan."

When I called Couch at his home in Lexington, Ky., I wondered how he felt about his old team.

He took a terrible physical and emotional beating in his five years as the Browns quarterback.

He was booed. He was benched several times by Butch Davis. He suffered a broken leg, a broken thumb, a battered shoulder and several concussions.

Because of all the injuries, he played his last regular season NFL game in 2003 ... with the Browns. His career lasted five years.

"I love the Browns," he said. "I always will. They are my team."

Then Couch turned analytical.

"We were starting the organization from the ground floor," he said. "I was a rookie quarterback. Kevin Johnson was our best receiver. He was a rookie. Chris Palmer was in his first year as a head coach.

"We just weren't very talented. It was a tough situation for a rookie quarterback. I came out of school a year early. It's hard to learn when you don't have a strong supporting cast."

WATCHING DESHONE KIZER

Couch easily identifies with DeShone Kizer, the Browns 21-year-old rookie quarterback.

While the Browns aren't an expansion team anymore, Kizer is starting for a team that was 1-15 last season.

"He's a talented player," said Couch. "He can run with the ball. I like how he gets out of the pocket and moves. He has a very strong arm."

But Kizer is 0-12 as a starter this season.

In his rookie year, Couch was 2-12 as a starter.

Ty Detmer started the opening game and was replaced by Couch in the second half of the opening game.

"The hardest part is taking all the losses," said Couch. "In my case, I was the No. 1 pick in the draft. I had never dealt with failure before. I was the SEC Player of the Year, First team All-American, Heisman Trophy Finalist."

Couch was not listing his credits to brag, but to demonstrate a point.

"You do all those things and you just figure you'll be a success in the NFL," he said. "You are the face of the franchise and not winning games. I felt the pressure of that every week."

Couch said Kizer is experiencing many of the same emotions.

While not as highly-rated as Couch, Kizer was a star quarterback at Notre Dame. He never imagined the Browns being winless with him as a starter.

"I know what DeShone is going through," said Couch. "I walked in his shoes. I can see it on his face in games. He's just so frustrated. You get your team in position to win a game, and it's just not working."

Couch talked about Kizer's final pass in the Browns recent 27-21 loss to Green Bay.

"You can't make that throw across your body like that," said Couch, recalling how Kizer was hit and threw a fluttering interception.

"But I know why it happened," said Couch. "You're trying to make a play. You are sick of losing. You feel like you have to do something incredible because just making the right play isn't good enough ... and then you get in trouble."

Couch said he made the same mistake at times instead of just "taking the sack, then going on to the next play."

It's a mental battle.

"All the losses pile up," he said. "It's very easy to lose your confidence. I know I did at times."

THE PLAYOFFS!

The last quarterback to lead the Browns to the playoffs is Couch.

The Browns were 9-7 in that 2002 season. Couch suffered a broken leg in the 24-16 victory over Atlanta to clinch a playoff spot.

While Couch had an 8-6 record as a starter in 2002. He was injured for the playoff game -- a loss to Pittsburgh.

That is a symbol of Couch's career. He sacrificed his body to have the team reach the postseason, then watched the game with his leg in a cast.

Since the franchise returned in 1999, the Browns best back-to-back seasons were 2001-2002. They were 16-16 overall, Couch had a 15-15 record.

Because he was the top player in the 1999 draft, he was considered a disappointment because he never became a star.

But in those two seasons, Couch emerged as a viable quarterback who gave his team a decent chance to win.

"We made the playoffs in my fourth year there," he said. "I thought we were headed in the right direction. We had some good pieces on both sides of the ball. Then they got rid of a lot veterans, basically blowing up the team."

Earlier in the year, I interviewed Butch Davis. The former Browns coach blamed owner Randy Lerner for the decision to gut the roster because of salary cap issues after the 2002 season.

There was plenty of blame to go around. The Browns were 5-11 in 2003. Davis kept switching between Kelly Holcomb and Couch as the quarterbacks.

At the end of the season, Davis dumped both players and signed Jeff Garcia. Couch was treated poorly at the end, barred from the practice facility after he refused to restructure his contract.

PAYING THE PRICE

Couch doesn't sound bitter when talking about how he'd start to play well, "then there would be an injury. I just couldn't sustain any consistency because I couldn't stay healthy."

Couch was sacked 56 times as a rookie, the most in the NFL.

In his third season, he was sacked 51 times. That was the second-most in the NFL. That was in 2001, the last time a Browns quarterback played all 16 games.

That doesn't count all the hits after he'd thrown the ball. Couch was fearless as he stood in the pocket, trying to find an open receiver and taking the physical punishment in the process.

"They also didn't protect quarterbacks back then like they do know," said Couch, referring to the "roughing the passer" penalties called in the modern game.

By 2004, Couch had major shoulder problems. He had surgeries to repair his rotator cuff, labrum and biceps. He went to camp with the Green Bay Packers in 2004. He later tried out with Jacksonville and was cut.

His arm was shot. His body was beaten up. He played his last NFL game on December 28, 2003. The Browns beat the Bengals, 22-14.

He was 26 years old.

COUCH AT 40

Couch lives in Lexington, Kentucky. He has been married to former model Heather Kozar (of Green) since 2005. They have two sons.

Couch and his brother Greg own part of a wealth management company.

He also invested in 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Lexington.

"I did broadcasting for five years for the SEC Package on Fox Sports South out of Atlanta," he said. "It was before it went over the SEC network."

His two sons play several sports. Couch has coached some of their youth teams.

And he watches the Browns.

"I poured my heart and soul into that organization," he said. "I loved it there. I absolutely loved it. I wanted to play for the Browns."

He occasionally thinks about how things could have been different if he had gone to another team with more talent -- and not been thrown into action immediately.

"I know I would have been successful," he said. "But I have no regrets. As I said, I love the Browns. I absolutely hate what they're going through right now, I know it's miserable for the fans ... it's just tough to watch them lose every Sunday."

Couch said he often hears from Browns fans on social media.

"The fans have been real good," he said. "As time passed, people realized it probably wasn't all my fault up there. I think most people realize I was probably a decent player."