2002 RECORD: 9-7 TEAM RANK (NFL): Defense (21st); Offense (23rd) ADDITIONS: Free agents -- LB Barry Gardner (Eagles). Draft picks -- 1. C Jeff Faine (Notre Dame); 2. OLB Chaun Thompson (West Texas A&M); 3. S Chris Crocker (Marshall); 4. RB Lee Suggs (Virginia Tech); 5a. C Ryan Pontbriand (Rice); 5b. CB Mike Lehan (Minnesota); 6. DL Antonio Garay (Boston College). SUBTRACTIONS: LB Dwayne Rudd (Bucs), CB Corey Fuller (Ravens), C Dave Wohlabaugh (Rams), LB Jamir Miller (released), LB Earl Holmes (Lions), LS Ryan Kuehl (Giants), S Chris Akins (Patriots). Team news | Roster | More on Browns draft

		Wed., June 11 What are the chances that Holcomb will overtake Couch for the starting job? Butch Davis' statement last week that Couch hasn't lost the job may be a little misleading. It sounded more like a way of keeping Couch's head in the competition. Though Davis keeps a tight reign on inside information involving the Browns, I keep hearing that Holcomb has a slight lead. Why? This is Couch's first real challenge to his starting job, and that can be unsettling to a quarterback who has been the franchise player of the team. If you read closer into what Davis was saying is that the competition is wide open and the winner won't be known until probably after the third game of the exhibition season. Couch is the more talented of the two, but he's been through so much in Cleveland that his confidence is more fragile than Holcomb's. Holcomb really has nothing to lose. The fans like him. A lot of the players on the team like him. He's mentally prepared to start the season as the backup and be ready to take over as a starter when needed. Couch doesn't have that mental luxury. If he's not starting, Couch faces a problem because he looks like a quarterback in decline, a former top draft choice who is making $6.2 million to be a backup.

The offseason has likely been bittersweet for quarterback Tim Couch. In one hand, he's surrounded by more talent than at any point in his first four years in the league. Conversely, whether he'll be on the field to utilize the talents of running back William Green, receivers Quincy Morgan and Kevin Johnson, and others is another story.

Couch, the first overall pick in 1999, will compete with Kelly Holcomb for the starting job. In his first six NFL seasons, Holcomb had only thrown 85 passes. But while Couch was sidelined early last year, Holcomb threw five touchdown passes and no interceptions while leading Cleveland to a 1-1 start. Holcomb continued to work his magic, leading the Browns to victory and a playoff berth in the season finale against Atlanta and throwing for 429 yards in a wild-card loss to Pittsburgh.

Coach Butch Davis suggested last week that the job belongs to Couch, but Holcomb could easily emerge as the starter. Coaches generally don't give in to public pressure, but if Couch struggles in training camp or early in September, sudden fan-favorite Holcomb will be summoned by the Dawg Pound.

What they've added?
The linebacking corps looks a lot different now than a year ago. Out are Jamir Miller, who missed all of 2002 with an Achilles injury, Dwayne Rudd and Earl Holmes. They signed veteran Barry Gardner, drafted Chaun Thompson and are ready to rely more on 2002 draft picks Kevin Bentley, Ben Taylor and Andra Davis.

The changes in personnel mirror that of the coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Foge Fazio stepped down shortly after the playoff loss to Pittsburgh, though reports indicate he was being forced out. He's been replaced by former Cowboys head coach Dave Campo. In addition, the Browns hired Andre Patterson as the defensive line coach and Clancy Pendergast to coach the linebackers.

Most of the other significant additions occurred during the draft where Cleveland added depth on offense by drafting centers Jeff Faine, Ryan Pontbriand and running back Lee Suggs.

What they're missing?
Coach Davis is saying otherwise, but the Browns have to be concerned with their linebacking corps. Five of their top six 'backers are first- or second-year players -- none of which were first-round draft picks. Gardner, who never lived up to expectations in Philadelphia, and Brant Boyer are the only ones with more than a year of NFL experience.

Fantasy Focus

Cleveland's wideouts Quincy Morgan, Kevin Johnson, Dennis Northcutt and Andre Davis will battle for catches at a crowded position. But running back William Green remains entrenched as the featured back. He started horribly last season despite being a 2002 first-round pick. In fact, many fantasy owners dropped him early last season when he only had rushed for 161 yards through the first nine weeks, losing carries to Jamel White. But Green improved and became fantasy's seventh-most productive back in the final seven weeks, rushing for 726 yards and five scores. During that stretch, Green averaged a hefty 24.6 carries and that bodes well for 2003. Significantly, his stats project to an impressive 1,659 yards and 11 touchdowns over 16 games. Only three backs, Priest Holmes, Ricky Williams and LaDainian Tomlinson, rushed for more last season. Grab him as the sleeper No. 2 runner with a solid chance that he'll be a top 10 back. -- Roger Rotter, ESPN.com Fantasy editor

According to Cleveland-area media, Davis is counting on big contributions from his linemen. The philosophy being if a great job is done up front, less will be needed from his young linebackers. But considering that former No. 1 pick Courtney Brown -- by all measures a bust at this point -- is among that group of linemen, Davis' expectations again sound unrealistic.

What it all means?
In Davis' first two years, the Browns registered better records than the year before, so expectations are likely high this season.

Despite his struggles, Couch has been given the benefit of the doubt. Since Cleveland re-entered the league, it's had major struggles at running back, wide receiver and the offensive line. Under those circumstances, most quarterbacks would struggle. But as mentioned earlier, that's not the case anymore. The Browns have solid skilled position players on offense and Holcomb sparked some explosiveness when he was at the helm. If Couch can't do the same, he'll be benched.

Even if the offense clicks, there are no guarantees Cleveland builds on last year's success. The defense, for however much Davis wants to downplay his linebackers' inexperience, is suspect. And the kicking (16th) and kick return (27th) units were nothing special last year. Yet, in a division where at least two foes could find themselves struggling to reach the .500 mark, the Browns could very well finding themselves fighting for the AFC North crown.

James C. Black is an NFL editor for ESPN.com.