The Cleveland Browns keep teasing a special package involving quarterback Johnny Manziel. The Pittsburgh Steelers said they expected to see it at some point during the season opener.
“I’ll be very surprised if we don’t see him,” Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said, via USA TODAY. “He was one of the top football players in the nation. You look at his offensive numbers. It’s not a magic wand he waves out there. He’s creating situations, making plays. They’re going to want to bring him along and give him game action. I’m sure of that.”
Of course the Steelers never saw Manziel. So could the Manziel package be rolled out in Week Two against the Saints? Not according to offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
#browns oc Kyle shanahan said he probably wouldn't use Johnny Manziel unless Brian Hoyer gets injured. Rob Ryan can relax and take night off
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) September 11, 2014
It’d be a pretty slick move though to tell a team not to prepare for him cause he won’t play, then stick him out on the field anyways. Of course the opposite is true, telling a team to game plan for him and then not using him.
Either way, I don’t think you can look into the comments too much cause no coordinator is tipping their hand before a game, but it would seem unlikely that Manziel would play.