Exactly one week ago, Mike Pettine and the Cleveland Browns announced Johnny Manziel would be the team’s starting QB for the rest of the season.
Not so fast, my friend.
After TMZ released a video showing Manziel partying over the weekend, Pettine sent out a statement today stating Manziel would become the 3rd string quarterback with Josh McCown being the starter “going forward.” Austin Davis will be the #2.
Earlier today, Pettine called the news “disappointing.” Manziel spent ten weeks in a rehab center for alcohol addiction over the offseason. For most players, this would be a non-story or at worst, a blip on the radar, but Manziel’s actions haven’t been consistent with how a person trying to turn his life and persona around.
Here is the full statement released by Pettine today.
https://twitter.com/FOXSportsLive/status/669258997439053824
McCown began the year as the starter before injuries opened the door for Manziel. In seven starts, he’s thrown 11 TDs and completed over 64% of his passes. Manziel was coming off his best game in the NFL, throwing for 372 yards in a 30-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cleveland will host the Baltimore Ravens Monday Night in a, uh, showdown between McCown and Matt Schaub.
The Browns and Steelers will meet in the final week of the season. Who knows what will happen by then, the Browns’ season has been more of a roller coaster than usual, but it seems unlikely Manziel will be the starter.
