Browns Film Room: Johnny Manziel’s long road ahead
September 17, 2015Indians move Trevor Bauer to bullpen…for now
September 17, 2015The Cleveland Browns went into this week assuming Johnny Manziel would be their starting quarterback for their Week 2 tilt against Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans as Josh McCown continues through the NFL’s concussion protocol. But not so fast, says head coach Mike Pettine, who may in fact have his initial starting quarterback ready to go as early as Friday.
“We’ve discussed [McCown playing],” said Pettine on Thursday afternoon. “I think it still will be our decision based on how practice goes. I don’t see an issue, if he’s cleared and he practices fully tomorrow. I don’t see, barring anything unforeseen, a reason why we wouldn’t play him.”
The Browns are coming off of a 31-10 thumping at the hands of the New York Jets, forcing many to hope that this Sunday marks the actual start of the 2015 season. McCown lasted all of one drive—a nine-minute one, however—before exiting the game thanks to a concussion he received while attempting to dive into the end zone for an early score. Prior to his exit, McCown was 5-for-8 for 49 yards through the air, peppering tight end Gary Barnidge and fullback Malcolm Johnson early and often.
McCown playing would take some of the air out of the Manziel-Mariota made-for-TV sails, but it could be argued that his return would give the Browns their best chance to achieve retribution in front of the hometown fans after being embarrassed a week earlier.
“I think they’re ready to bounce back,” said Pettine. “I don’t want to speak for them…but I think overall as a unit, they didn’t play up to not just the standards we set for them as coaches, but eh very similar standards they set for themselves as players.”
12 Comments
LeBeau: “Geez, now how to we know who to game plan for?”
[Meeting room explodes in laughter.]
Will it be Dink-and-Dunk or Run-and-Fumble?
Chuck and duck?
BOOOOOOO…. MARIOTA V MANZIEL FOR THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BELT GOD DAMMIT.
I just get this Joba Chamberlain feeling right about now. The Yankees screwed that kid up royally with their bullpen/rotation/bullpen/rotation – no, wait, bullpen moves with him. Can we just let this kid play and either flop or succeed?
Frankly, letting Manziel play kills 2 important birds with one stone:
1. We get to see what we have (kinda – there are no receivers so who really knows?)
2. If he really does stink, the Browns get the top pick. If he’s good, they go to the playoffs.
The only thing McCown does for this team is get them to 5-11, good enough to miss the playoffs AND the top-5 picks.
More like the Divas Championship well not Mariota.
I still can’t stand Joba the Hut. When did KC pick his big carcass up anyways?
once they finished fumigating the midges.
We’ll see who wins out here I have to believe Pettine wants McCown to start no way would I want my job to be on the line and have the deuce as my starting QB.
At least he shaved.
hi SAGGY … you may be right about mccown & you may be selling him short. he was up & down in the pre-season & looked really good on that 9 minute drive against the jets.
the browns must win on sunday … you’re mike pettine … who do you start ??
That’s part of his point – the Browns don’t have to win Sunday. They may actually be better off losing.