Phipps? Or Couch?

The Gipper

OK, this comparison is NOT going to be on the order of Coke vs. Pepsi, Beatles vs. Stones or such great rivalries. But, it is apt to look at this, as except for Bobby Garrett who was a complete bust in the 50s these are the only 2 QBs selected BY the Browns in the Top 5 overall picks of the regular draft. (The Browns have had other Top 5 picks play for them: Otto/Dawson/Vinny...and of course they had Bernie taken with the #1 pick of the Supp draft). Their comparative stats follow. Who was the better (or baddest) QB of the two. Also note: Phipps stats are only for his time with the Browns, not his subsequent years with the Bears

Stat.............Couch...........Phipps

Games........62.................88

Starts..........59.................52

W/L record..22-37............24-25-1

Comps........1025.............633

Atts..............1714............1317

Comp. %.....59.8..............48.1

Yards..........11,131..........7700

TDs.............64.................40

TD%............3.7...............3.0

INTs............67................81

Int.%...........3.9...............6.2

YPA...........6.5...............5.8

YPC..........10.9.............12.2

YPG..........179.5...........87.5

QB rate.......75.1...........51.0

4th Q. comebacks...10......10

Yes, it is probable that we have some apples to oranges comparison because of the changes in the pass defense rules. Phipps played in the bump and run era, Couch did not.

So? Which is your choice? Bubba Cola or Sam's Cola? Zager and Evans or Steam?

Browns149

They both sucked

Zombo

Couch was better because he was just a huge disappointment as opposed to Phipps who was historically bad.

Who else did we take #1 overall ... Courtney Brown? Another stellar choice.

Zombo

bbedward

Tim Couch was better.

But it's like comparing 2 brands of fruit cake. Nobody likes fruit cake regardless, but maybe hickory farms is less terrible than a braxton fruitcake. But they both suck.

(Yes I had to look up fruit cake brands for the analogy)

Tour2ma

Phipps was the worst. It was actually painful watching him play... something he had in common with Wheezy.

In addition to Phipps' other shortcomings, he had zero leadership.

Unlike Couch, he had the good fortune of playing on some decent Browns squads... unfortunately they did not include Paul Warfield.

Bob806

Phipps was much worse. I still cringe, 5 interceptions vs the Dolphins in the playoff game in 1972. That plus the blocked punt lost the game....20-14.

Couch may have been above average if we ever got him an O-line.

Canton Mike

Phipps was the WORST! I know, because I had to live through his time here. Goodbye Warfield, hello Phipps...even after his crappy interception filled Purdue years. I still remember the trade of Paul Warfield for the rights to Phipps as the ABSOLUTE WORST move the Browns ever made. He was an interception machine & he had a decent Browns' Team around him, unlike Couch, who shoulda sued our (then) FO for malpractice. They never addressed our OL, only got him KJ as a WR.

I think Mike Phipps was the most God awful Browns QB I have ever seen, & that includes Anderson & Weeden!

Mike

SunDawg

What he said ^^^, add Weedone and Quinn to the mix for the exclamation points.

The Gipper

@sundawg said:
What he said ^^^, add Weedone and Quinn to the mix for the exclamation points.

I only included Couch and Phipps because those were the two guys in Browns history who were Top 5 QB picks. (aside from Bobby Garrett....#1 overall in 1950 and played in 9 career games....none with the Browns....and never started a game. At least with Couch/Phipps you had similarities)

And the other prime reason for including those two is that it is highly probable that the Browns will be drafting a QB in the Top 5 for only the 4th time ever..(excluding Kosar)

Westside Steve

Let's see.... The quarterback on an expansion team or the guy taking the reins for an established NFL franchise... Gee I can't tell.

WSS

FairHooker11

If all things were even ....

looked right at the TD's and Intercepts stats and the worst belongs to - yep - Phipps me boy....

when they arrived - both players came in with high expectations placed on them.

but Phipps had an established team with a winning record - and quickly stunk it up

Zombo

I remember the quote on Phipps was along the lines of "he was a nice guy to have over for dinner, but you wouldn't want him as your quarterback."

Here is one of his better moments:

Bob806

Zombo said:

I remember the quote on Phipps was along the lines of "he was a nice guy to have over for dinner, but you wouldn't want him as your quarterback."

Here is one of his better moments:

I was at that game!

Tour2ma

Zombo said:
Here is one of his better moments:

Ah... the days when men were men and there were actual flags marking the intersection of the goal/ end and side lines....