Will Johnny Manziel get another chance to start?
Nov 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) gestures at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 30-9. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
It may no longer be about what Cleveland Browns troubled quarterback Johnny Manziel deserves right now. But he just might be in line to get another chance to earn his teammates trust in a game situation. After being announced as the team’s starter Manziel was caught in the act of partying during the team’s bye week via video.
Owner Jimmy Haslam wanted to see what he had in his 2014 1st-round pick up until that point. But Maniel gave head coach Mike Pettine the ammunition he needed to start Josh McCown, whom he wanted to start anyway. And in the Browns’ heartbreaking Monday night loss to the Baltimore Ravens, McCown was injured and unable to continue.
And since Manziel was demoted to 3rd-string because of the incident, Austin Davis replaced McCown. He actually cost the Browns a timeout at the end of the game because he slid instead of going out of bounds. If Pettine wants a remote chance to win another game this season, he probably going to have to go to Manziel.
There’s no going back to McCown this year because it was announced Tuesday that he’s out for the season with a broken collarbone. Pettine said Tuesday that he was not yet prepared to announce the team’s Week 13 starter. Unless he signs another quarterback and starts him right away, Manziel and Davis are his choices.
But he gave the NFL media no indication what he would do, saying, “We are going to discuss it more and determine our best course of action moving forward. We are going to take everything into consideration and then make a decision for this week that is best for the team.”
Well, what’s best for the organization is to find out if Manziel is worth all this trouble.
Will he get another chance to start?
Will he get out of his own way this time?
Stay tuned!