BEREA, Ohio -- Tim Couch was fitted with a cast on his broken right leg on Monday and will watch the playoffs from the sidelines.

	Couch

The Browns' quarterback, whose inconsistency had many Cleveland fans begging for backup Kelly Holcomb all season, broke the leg early in the second quarter of Cleveland's 24-16 victory Sunday over Atlanta.

''It's probably at least a four- to six-week healing process,'' coach Butch Davis said. ''That's a huge blow to the team. His leadership. We certainly wouldn't be in the playoffs if not for the performances and victories he helped lead this team to.''

Holcomb, who relieved Couch on Sunday, will start the first-round playoff game Sunday in Pittsburgh. He made two starts earlier this season while Couch was recovering from an elbow injury.

Holcomb went 7-for-14 for 86 yards and threw two interceptions against the Falcons. Playing for the first time since Oct. 6, he looked rusty but threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Johnson in the fourth quarter to put the Browns ahead 17-16.

The Browns signed quarterback Kevin Thompson as a backup for Holcomb and second-stringer Josh Booty.

Thompson, who been signed by the club three pervious times, appeared in one game for the Browns in 2000. He was signed that season after Couch broke his thumb and missed the final eight games.