Browns Controversy

From the time the Browns drafted Johnny Manziel in the first round, they had a QB controversy. It was self-inflicted. The Browns were apparently unsure about Brian Hoyer being their franchise guy, so they picked up Manziel to add some competition.

I'm not upset that the Browns drafted a QB. I think it was smart. Two things though...they shouldn't have drafted him in the first round, and they shouldn't have taken Johnny Manziel. I previously wrote an article about Manziel and what I think about him as a QB, but suffice it to say I'm not happy we took him. He was overrated in college and is even more so in the NFL. He's a small guy who likes to run. It doesn't bode well for big guys who like to run, much less smaller guys. Run-first QB's don't do well at the NFL level. His QB gradually goes down during the game, meaning in the 4th quarter when you need him most, he's playing at his worst. Part of this is that he gets banged up during the game because he runs. He isn't good with progressions. At A&M, he would stare down his first route and usually not look to his second, third, or fourth. He had NFL O-linemen and arguably the best college receiver in Mike Evans. Sometimes he would just throw it up for Evans to go get it. His mechanics need a lot of work and his worst games were against the teams that had actual NFL talent. He had a losing record against them.

But everyone remembers his heisman trophy and the fact that he beat Alabama once. "He's a winner." So was Tim Tebow for a few games. How'd that turn out? He's just not cut out to be an NFL quarterback. Since he hasn't had more than 10 passing attempts in his NFL career, that's his resume up to this point.

Talent at the college level doesn't always translate to the next level. Look at these heisman winners since just 2000. Chris Weinke (QB), Eric Crouch (QB), Jason White (QB), Matt Leinart (QB), Troy Smith (QB), Tim Tebow (QB), Mark Ingram (RB), Cam Newton (QB) has hit his ceiling, RG3 (QB) who we now know as a bust. Johnny Manziel is the next person on that list. That's 10 busts who were heisman winners just this century, of a possible 13! Talent in college doesn't always equal great NFL player.

Hoyer's resume isn't extremely great, either. He's floated around a few teams before finally landing here in his hometown. As a starter, he is 10-5. That's the best record the Browns have had in a long time. He's only throwing 56% of his passes to sub-par receivers. His QB rating isn't great. He came through with a clutch performance against the Titans, and he's good in the clutch.

All year I've been a Brian Hoyer guy. This past week, due to bad performances, the Browns benched Hoyer and went with Manziel for a little while. Manziel ran for a touchdown and nearly gave the Bills one as well. So with that having been done, many people thought that Mike Pettine would name Manziel the starter this week against the Colts. Hoyer was named instead. I think Manziel will play, just not start.

As you can guess, many Manziel-maniacs aren't too happy. "We need to see what Johnny has." The Browns have really vamped up their QB controversy. Sticking with Hoyer will be interesting. I don't know how much his confidence has been shaken and how much he'll be looking over his shoulder after every incomplete pass. This has been Hoyer's season and he's done most of it without Gordon and Cameron, and now Mack and Austin. This would be difficult for any QB. With Gordon back, he'll have at least one guy to throw to.

Going with Manziel would essentially be telling Hoyer that "you're not our guy and you won't be getting the new contract that you want from us."It would make Manziel our franchise QB. There's a scary thought...

With Manziel, you'd get some good plays and a lot of bad ones. I actually think going with Johnny would give Hoyer playing time because he will inevitably get hurt. He'd probably win his first few games, then once defensive coordinators figured out how to game plan him, his numbers would go down and he'd start losing...a lot.

Judging from this year, I'm not sure as that Hoyer is a franchise QB as I was to begin the year. He's had his chance, and he's gone 7-5 in arguably the NFL's toughest division. That's not bad, but is it enough to warrant a big contract? Basically I need my QB to make good decisions on and off the field. Manziel has been involved with altercations going back to his college days. He skipped out on the Manning camp. He's involved in late night hotel incidents. I don't care what you do in Vegas as long as you don't come up in the news all the time. "Well Manziel is a higher-profile guy so of course he'll be in the news more." Yes, but he's in the news for all the wrong reasons. I didn't want him for the same reasons I don't want Jameis Winston, and I was high on him the past two years. Bad judgment. Too many little decisions that aren't good.

I'd like to see Hoyer finish out the season. If he does well, give him a contract extension and get rid of Johnny football. If he doesn't, then he might not be our franchise QB and let's get someone in who can be. Draft three QB's if necessary. I would still like to get rid of Johnny football. And hey, if Manziel does play and proves to be a great NFL QB, then I'll be happy because the Browns will be winning, but history tells us that it's probably not going to happen. I can understand fans wanting to pull the plug on Hoyer, but let him finish it out first to see if he can be the guy or not. If not, let's move on.