Browns’ Josh McCown is favored to start over Johnny Manziel
Head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Mike Pettine, confirmed on a radio show that Josh McCown will be the starter entering training camp over Johnny Manziel.
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If you’re Johnny Manziel, you have to be a little bit anxious to finally get your big break. As a rookie quarterback, Manziel played in just five games and threw only 35 total passes. Now, he’s struggling to find playing time even after the Cleveland Browns failed to re-sign Brian Hoyer, last year’s starter.
The NFL is a business, and sometimes it’s a harsh one. However, Manziel had to believe that he would automatically be considered the starter for the Browns even with the signing of 35-year-old veteran quarterback Josh McCown.
According to head coach Mike Pettine, who recently made an appearance 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland, McCown will likely head into training camp as the team’s starting quarterback over the widely-criticized rookie.
To say that no one outside of Johnny Football’s household is surprised would be an understatement, but the fact that he’s trying to do everything he can, rehab, etc., to get on Pettine’s good side has to make him think that he’s not doing quite enough. It’s not just his off-field issues that have landed him as the second-string quarterback once again, it’s his inability to prove himself as a starter on the field.
Last year, Manziel completed just 18-of-35 passes for 175 yards with no touchdowns and two picks. He also ran for 29 total yards, including his first career TD.
Manziel was chosen in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and it looked like Hoyer would be getting a serious run for his money from the rookie, but that wasn’t the case until after mid-season, when Johnny made his first start, but failed to open any eyes or take over the position.
Now that he is likely the day one backup to a 35-year-old vet like McCown, Johnny has to be wondering when he will ever get a chance to prove himself.
While Pettine did say he’s the starter to enter training camp and no one is a lock to begin the season as the top quarterback just yet, it’s usually the guy who enters training camp as the No. 1 that begins the season as such.
It has been a long road for Johnny Football and this may be the season we see what he’s really made of, but we might have to wait until about week 10, or later, once again.
More from Cleveland Browns
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- NFL rumors: DeAndre Hopkins reunion with former quarterback off the table