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| All of the Browns starting QBs since 1999 |
There is no doubt Manziel's numbers have been better than Brian Hoyer's in the preseason, in fact it isn't even close. Manziel is 24 out of 42 for 213 yards. He has one touchdown with no picks. Where as Brian Hoyer is 18 of 36, with only 192 yards. This includes a touchdown and an interception. Johnny Manziel's numbers are quite a bit better than Hoyer's. However, Manziel's numbers aren't great either, and if this translates into regular season play it might prove that he is not and will not be an NFL quarterback. This is just another reason to start him week one instead of Hoyer.
The sooner they put Manziel in the better. Here's why. If Johnny Manziel starts right away and turns out to be a complete flop then you could get him out of Cleveland quicker and move on to the next guy (and add yet another name to the shirt). Whereas with Brian Hoyer starting you're waiting on this guys for multiple weeks and possibly a full season and he might do nothing. That's a few weeks to a whole year wasted where the Browns could have continued their quarterback search instead of waiting on Manziel. People say it's better if he waits so he can learn more. Well then that brings up this question. What in the world is anyone going to learn from watching Brian Hoyer??? This isn't Aaron Rodgers waiting on a legendary Hall of Fame quarterback in Brett Favre. This is a draft pick with potential waiting on a nobody. Get him in there and see how he does. If he doesn't start he will be a distraction.
We all know about Manziel's partying and off the field activities. If he doesn't start both his extra curricular activities, and just his presence on the side line will be a distraction. Do people honestly believe that the attention and media will be focused on Brian Hoyer's starts? Well unless Hoyer magically starts playing like he's elite they won't be, and if they are it will be because they'll be debating how soon Manziel gets in because of Hoyer's poor starts. Otherwise, the attention will be on the guy on the sideline waiting to get his chance to play quarterback. They'll also be focused on whatever non-football related activities he's been involved in recently that may have stirred the pot. Get him in there so that at least if he gets lots of attention it will be because he's starting quarterback. And if I was the Browns I would hope that this would also help with his off the field antics. However, is Manziel their best option to start?
All this being said if I'm the Cleveland Browns my starting quarterback would be...neither of these guys. I would instead turn to Connor Shaw, current third string quarterback. He's only played in one preseason game, but he should have been in more. In his lone game he completed 8 of 9 passes for 123 yards, with one touchdown and no picks. In that short time he looked like more of a legitimate starting quarterback than either Hoyer or Manziel. Yes, it's a very small sample size to form an opinion on. However, it's also a shame that Shaw didn't get more preseason games and hasn't even been considered for the starting job because if Manziel wasn't there he might be in consideration. I hope that at some time this season he gets a chance to play in a game, and maybe even win the starting job. I wouldn't be totally surprised if at this time next year Connor Shaw is Cleveland's starter and Johnny Manziel is long forgotten.
-Darren
Photo taken from prnewswire.com
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