tim-couch-kentucky.jpg

In 1999, Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch, shown playing in a rainy game against LSU, had a pro day and another workout for the Browns, and they ended up taking him No. 1 overall in that year's draft.

(AP file)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -

This is not the first time the franchise has been seeking a quarterback who can bring the "it factor." Back in 1999, the Browns - returning after losing the franchise to Baltimore - had the No. 1 overall pick and were deliberating between Kentucky's Tim Couch and Oregon's Akili Smith.

Then, just as now, the quarterbacks' pro days were a hot topic of discussion.

Johnny Manziel's pro day will take place in Texas on Thursday afternoon. That provides an opportunity to look back at a story that appeared in The Plain Dealer 15 years ago today, March 26, 1999, a time when Smith and Couch were holding pro days and trying to win the honor of being the No. 1 overall pick - which Couch eventually did.

And don't miss coverage of Manziel's pro-day showing Thursday with coverage by Northeast Ohio Media Group Browns reporter Tom Reed:

SMITH JOINS COUCH AS POSSIBLE TOP PICK

March 26, 1999

By Mary Kay Cabot

With just three weeks left before the NFL draft, Browns coach Chris Palmer admitted yesterday that he's torn between two lobbers.

There's Kentucky's Tim Couch, whom everyone assumes the Browns will take with their No.1 pick. And there's Oregon's Akili Smith, whom Palmer likes so much that he brought him to Cleveland yesterday for a visit with club officials.

Couch will also visit the Browns sometime before the April 9 deadline for prospects to do so. No other quarterbacks are scheduled to visit.

Also scheduled to come are Georgia cornerback Champ Bailey, Texas running back Ricky Williams and Miami running back Edgerrin James.

"Everybody's in a hurry to have us make a declaration," said Palmer. "But I think I've made it perfectly clear that we don't know who we're going to take yet. Hey, I lived through the Rick Mirer/Drew Bledsoe decision in New England. We might not know until Saturday morning of the draft [April 17]."

Akili Smith didn't spend a lot of time at Oregon, but he did put up big numbers when he was there and wowed scouts and coaches heading into the 1999 NFL Draft.

Palmer said it's an accurate assessment that he's torn between the two quarterbacks.

"We visited Akili in Oregon and we were very impressed with his workout there," said Palmer. "He threw the ball extremely well. He threw it 75 times with ease. He has a lot of football intelligence. He's one of five guys we're considering strongly with that pick."

Smith, 23, met with owner Al Lerner, President Carmen Policy and Vice President of Football Operations Dwight Clark yesterday evening. He went out to dinner with members of the coaching staff last night and will watch the opening practice of minicamp this morning.

"I really believe I'm the total package," said Smith. "I've got great arm strength, mobility, quickness - all the smart stuff a quarterback needs."

Smith, one of the only top quarterback prospects to throw at the Indianapolis scouting combine, also scored well on his second attempt of the NFL's Wonderlic intelligence test after an initial low score. "I worked with someone on my test-taking skills," he said. "I also guessed a little at the end and got lucky."

Smith's downside is that he spent only one full season at Oregon after playing two years of minor-league baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. But he made that year a memorable one, passing for a school record 3,763 yards and 32 touchdowns.

The NFL's scouting report on Smith says: "exceptional quickness when forced out of the pocket. Reminds scouts of Randall Cunningham for his ability to improvise when the play breaks down. Timed at 4.65 in the 40-yard dash. Equally accurate in both the short area and deep passing game."

"My strength is my arm strength and the ability to create if something breaks down," Smith said. "I'm a vertical passer who likes to throw downfield. Plus, I'm a pure winner. I've been a winner all my life."

Smith, who will turn 24 in August, worked out in Oregon earlier yesterday for the Bengals, who pick No. 3. He'll also make a visit there and to Philadelphia (No. 2) and Chicago (No. 7).

Smith's agent, Leigh Steinberg, also compared the Smith/Couch decision to Mirer/Bledsoe in 1993. Bill Parcells went with Bledsoe, who went on to become an All-Pro and lead his team to the Super Bowl. Mirer was picked second by Seattle and is now a backup with his third team.

"Drew was from Washington State, where no one saw him on TV," said Steinberg, Bledsoe's agent. "Rick was from Notre Dame and everybody saw him every week.

"Not many people have seen Akili, but he's a franchise quarterback with an incredible arm and great leadership ability."

Steinberg said he talked to Palmer earlier this month. "Coach Palmer has coached four of my quarterbacks: Warren Moon, Drew, Rob Johnson and Mark Brunell," said Steinberg. "He really seemed impressed with Akili, who puts me in the mind of a young Warren Moon."