Brian Hoyer to remain starter over Johnny Manziel
If you thought the Johnny Manziel era in Cleveland was beginning when he took over for Brian Hoyer against the Buffalo Bills, you were wrong.
Jay Glazer reports that Hoyer will remain the starting quarterback against the Indianapolis Colts over Manziel. Glazer adds that Hoyer had “widespread support” throughout the Browns locker room and that the decision was a “no brainer.”
Hoyer was benched in the fourth quarter against the Bills with Cleveland trailing 20-3. Manziel then led the Browns on an eight-play, 80-yard drive which he capped off with a 10-yard rushing touchdown.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, head coach Mike Pettine got together with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, quarterbacks coach Dowell Logains and general manager Ray Farmer to make what Pettine called a “very difficult decision.”
If nothing else, Pettine’s decision to bench Hoyer against Buffalo proves that the veteran’s leash is shorter than ever. Hoyer has thrown one touchdown pass and six interceptions in his past three games. His quarterback rating was 54.9 during that span, but the Browns are still 7-5 and very much in the playoff hunt.
Given Cleveland’s record, Pettine is thinking about the playoffs and not the future of the franchise. That said, the next switch he decides to make to Manziel will likely be permanent.