Cleveland Browns Should Open QB Competition

Aug 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) throws a pass during the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Performance

Manziel showed up at training camp still focused and continued to regain his teammate’s trust. Camp observers started to ask head coach Mike Pettine if he would open up a competition for him. But Pettine would have none of it, maintaining that McCown was going to be his starting quarterback.

And in the first game of the preseason, Manziel looked pretty good sticking his toe in the water. But McCown was sharp too so there was no reason to believe a competition could or would break out. Then in the second game, I started to see the guy that earned him the name “Johnny Football.”

He showed good accuracy, mobility, ability to throw on the run and pocket presence of all things. Manziel was 10-18 on the day for 118 yards and a touchdown with a quarterback rating of 94.2. This performance raised eye-brows and really made Browns fans wonder about a competition.

Next: McCown Falls Back