Davis blindsides Booty with surprise cut
Published 12:00 am Thursday, September 18, 2003
BEREA - Josh Booty never saw this hit coming. The third-string quarterback got blindsided by Browns coach Butch Davis, who waived him Wednesday.
''It's crazy,'' said Booty, who spent the past two seasons on Cleveland's roster backing up Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb. ''Where's the loyalty?''
Booty was playing golf Tuesday in Akron when Davis called to tell him he no longer was needed. The news stunned the 28-year-old, who played five seasons of baseball in the Florida Marlins' organization before signing with the Browns in 2001.
''I was like, 'What?, you're kidding,''' Booty said. ''If we're 2-0 right now, I don't get released. It doesn't make any sense. You don't do that in the third week of the season. I'm getting calls right and left from guys on the team wondering what happened.''
Davis said that he made the move to free up a roster spot and that it had nothing to do with Booty or his performance. The Browns did a survey of NFL games over the past five years and found that third-string quarterbacks were used in only 10 games, Davis said.
Cleveland signed offensive lineman Craig Osika, who was waived last month by San Francisco, to replace Booty on the roster. The Browns (0-2) play the 49ers on Sunday.
Booty figured he was in the Browns' long-term plans.
Although he hadn't played in a regular-season game in three years, Booty received high praise from Davis and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
There's a strong possibility that either Holcomb or Couch won't be with the Browns next season. Booty, who has a strong arm and feels he can start in the league, figured he would be a backup.
''It's crazy, man. They were telling me that I was climbing up the ladder,'' Booty said. ''One of those two quarterbacks probably isn't going to be here next year.''
Although the Browns have another quarterback, rookie Nate Hybl, on their practice squad, Booty said ''I think they're taking a risk'' by not having another experienced quarterback on the active roster.