I’m excited about the offense this year, now that Kelly Holcomb — in a surprising show of meritocracy — has been named the starting quarterback.

Every time he got into a game last year, the team moved crisply downfield, punctuating drives with touchdowns more often than not. The receivers respond well to him, probably because they’d rather catch a 20-yard out at the sideline than a three-yard slant into a middle linebacker’s forearm. While not as physically skilled as Couch, Holcomb seems smarter. Perhaps by getting more consistent reps from here on out, Holcomb will approach the center with more time left on the play clock, so he can lure the defense offsides, one thing Couch does exceptionally well.

Obviously, Coach Davis’ announcement is something of a shocker, given the investments (including a contract extension after the 2001 season) the Browns have made in Couch. When Davis was hired, he said, “I liken Tim Couch to a young Troy Aikman, someone who can lead the team to Super Bowl greatness.” Yesterday, he carefully avoided comparing or analyzing the play of his two top QBs, calling the decision “my own personal gut feeling.”

And the Deuce had rolled up his sleeves for the summer’s duel, appearing stronger and quicker than ever. So, the first of my predictions from the previous post is already wrong, but I’m definitely sticking with the idea that they’ll be among the top scoring teams in the league. (I hope more of those predictions turn out wrong, by the way.)

But don’t think we’ve heard the last from Couch. Fairly or not, he was perceived by many as the prima donna — the new Browns’ first overall draft pick, with the league’s fourth highest salary, a Hummer, and a blond Playmate girlfriend. But he’s earned his toughness bona fides with all the pounding he took as the team slowly took shape. At some point this season, he’ll have a chance to play the part of fan sweetheart, the blue-chip golden boy coming in to save the day and perhaps resurrect his career. It’s a quintessential NFL storyline, so it’s up to Couch to stay ready and stay positive. His prospects — whether here or with some other team next year — will depend on whether he grows stronger as a result of this bit of ego pruning.

During his press conference, Couch was not goaded into displaying any bitterness, though he did not concede that the competition was fair, only that it was the coach’s perogative. “I don’t see myself as a backup quarterback, and I’m never gonna accept that role fully,” he said. “It’s not gonna do anything to me except make me hungry and drive me more to become a better football player.”

Well, if that the case, perhaps the benching of first-round picks should continue with Alvin McKinley knocking Gerard Warren down on the depth chart.