Longtime Cleveland sports fan Jay Crawford will be in the broadcast booth alongside former quarterback Tim Couch calling Browns’ locally televised preseason games on WEWS News 5.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to be a part of what I consider to be a real metamorphosis. I see this organization moving in the right direction,” Crawford said. “It’s a really fun time to be involved. I know as Browns fans we get excited every April and every preseason, but for the first time in a long time, this feels palpable. This feels real. I’m thrilled I’ll get an opportunity to connect with a fan base that is so hungry for a winner.”
Crawford, a “TV free agent” as his Twitter bio states, has thirty years of experience in the sports broadcast industry, was dismissed as part of ESPN’s layoffs nearly one year ago. The veteran broadcaster spent nine years as host of ESPN’s popular show Cold Pizza, which later changed to First Take. Prior to being let go by the network, Crawford anchored their 11am edition of SportsCenter.
Couch, the number one overall draft pick by the Browns in 1999, led the team to one playoff appearance, but his tenure was deemed disappointing overall. The quarterback was released by the Browns in 2004. Couch has broadcast experience, working for Fox Sports South and providing color analysis on the SEC Regional Network.
“I’m super excited about it,” he said. “I haven’t been back in Cleveland since I left there. It’s going to be nice to get back up there and be around the organization again.
The three locally televised Browns preseason games will be Week 1 against the Giants, Week 2 vs. the Bills and Week 4 in Detroit. Their third preseason game against the Super Bowl winning Philadelphia Eagles is a Fox national game.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.