Report: Browns don’t want to play Johnny Manziel vs. Steelers
The NFL world wants to see Johnny Manziel start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in the regular season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but head coach Mike Pettine may not want to see Manziel start in an effort to protect him.
According to Browns beat writer Mark Kay Kabot of Cleveland.com and the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, the Browns don’t want to throw Manziel into the fire that is the Steelers defense.
#browns have never wanted to send Manziel into the lion's den of Pittsburgh sept 7. JFF will have to make it impossible for them to sit him
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 15, 2014
Manziel is splitting reps with Brian Hoyer in the Monday Night Football telecast against the Washington Redskins in the second preseason game, but it sounds like Manziel would have to blow him out of the water in this game and in the third preseason game to win the job.
Starting Hoyer would appear to be the safe move for the Browns considering they open against the Steelers, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens, each would provide a stiff challenge for Manziel, so it could also be the smart move to avoid a baptism by fire for Manziel.
If Hoyer struggles against those three teams and the Browns are facing an 0-3 record into their Week 4 bye week, it would make a lot of sense for Manziel to be named the starter at that point with an extra week of practice to get ready for his first career start in the NFL.