Johnny Manziel named Cleveland Browns starter vs. 49ers

After being benched for two games, Browns coach Mike Pettine is starting Johnny Manziel next game since he is the team’s best option.

Just two weeks after Mike Pettine benched Johnny Football to send him a message for partying, he is back in the starting QB role for their next game against the 49ers for his fourth start of the season.

The quarterback carousel continues for the Browns – after naming Manziel the full-time starter, a video emerged of him partying which led to his demotion. Following Josh McCown’s season-ending injury, Austin Davis had to fill in against the Bengals. Once he put up a stinker, the team now has no choice but to turn to Manziel once again while Austin Davis will back him up.

Coach Mike Pettine had this to say regarding their next game:

"Johnny will be our starting quarterback on Sunday. He’s been solid in the building over the last couple of weeks and we are hopeful he takes this opportunity to continue to build on the progress he’s made on the field throughout the season. The goal for every game is to go out and win, and Johnny needs to show that he can put us in position to do so during these last four weeks of the season."

There’s no denying that Manziel has had some personal problems this season, but he’s displayed flashes of being a starting quarterback, and Pettine’s treatment of him is stunting his development. In Manziel’s last game against the Steelers, he threw for 372 yards and a touchdown.

With another lost season and many calling for Mike Pettine’s head, Bleacher Report’s NFL insider Jason Cole hinted that he’s reluctantly naming Manziel the starter in order to save his job. He does not feel that Manziel will turn around on the problems he’s shown, but starting him right now is a more popular decision than cutting him from the team.

It is yet to be determined whether Manziel will be the permanent starter going forward, but we will likely find out after the marquee matchup that is Johnny Manziel vs. Blaine Gabbert on Sunday.