So, 2 weeks ago the Browns named Johnny Manziel their starter for the rest of the season; citing performance issues and an obvious desire to gauge the growth of their former first round pick while out of playoff contention. A week later, he was benched in favor of Josh McCown and dropped to 3rd string on the depth chart due to a video that emerged of him partying during the team's bye week (he was in alcohol rehab for all of February). Last night, Josh McCown was injured in the 4th quarter and was relieved by Austin Davis, who promptly led a game tying touchdown drive before watching as the team's game winning field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown. Now, McCown is announced to be out for the season. Will the Browns start Davis? Will they forgive Manziel so quickly and reverse course? They just signed Terrelle Pryor as a wide receiver, hell maybe he plays QB? This reminds me of our 2012 QB situation, only worse. Remember, while it is often stressful to be a Jets fan, at least you don't like Cleveland.
I think the issue with Manziel was more that he lied about partying rather than the partying itself. If he just came back and said, "yeah it was me but it was no big deal" maybe they cut him some slack. Apparently he told Pettine to his face that it was an old video from before his rehab and had a few buddies back him up on the lie. Which was pretty easily dismissed with the truth a day later after some investigation. _
For sure. I can see both sides. He knew what would happen if he got caught. He lied and thought he could get away with it. Whatever. He didn't kill anybody or get a DUI. And let's be honest. That entire rehab stunt was just a PR MOVE. The kid is 22 years old. The majority of us went through that phase. Hell im 25 in a week and still go out to clubs and stuff on the weekend. To ask a kid of that age just to completely cut out a social aspect of his life is ridiculous. If that's a RB or WR or defensive back, we don't hear about it. It's just the fact that he is a QB. Regardless of what he does in his spare time, if he can play. Let him. We have NO IDEA if he can. He has shown improvement with more experience. Let's see what he's got. You're gonna tell me Terrell Pryor is a better qb or better potential than MANZIEL? no Way
Browns biggest problem at the moment is their HC. Mike Pettine is simply awful, team is underprepared, his DC skills have resulted in a defense going backwards, personnel decisions are bizarre, clock managment is terrible. He's Rex Ryan without the fun, games or playoff appearances. Trouble is they can't go and sack him as the franchise needs to display 'continuity' and 'belief' in their 4th or 5th choice head coach or they'll simply have no one apply next time around.
They'll start Davis I Bet. Good decision. If Davis starts winning too many games then they'll have to switch to Manziel or Pryor but they will get to the bottom. Manziel is done in Cleveland. They'll take the Memphis QB in the draft and Manziel be looking for somewhere else.
Pettine is gone at the end of the year. He has to be. The Browns have some talent on that team, the coaching is just horrendous. I can see a new coach coming in and with Manziel starting, they begin like 5-1 next year.
Pettine isn't that bad. His ole butt buddy Jim O'Neil, his defensive coordinator, has been terrible though. So Pettine deserves criticism for that I guess but he himself hasn't been too bad. Good chance he'll get fired though because I doubt he'll want to part ways with O'Neil if they issue an ultimatum.
In my opinion, you're missing a few notables. First, I agree he's 22 and doing what most 22 year old's like to do when they go out. However, unlike you, me and Dave down the street, we were not drafted in the first round to be the face of a NFL franchise. It's time to grow up a bit, because this is a multi billion dollar business that ultimately judges you, your coaches and those who drafted you by winning. The NFL also has an off the field image issue they are dealing with. They will only deal with your bullshit so many times before it's time to cut bait.
You bet! That's why NFL fans the world over screamed for Namath to be fired when the first picture of him with a drink in his hand surfaced.
Namath was great on the field. Manziel stinks. That's the difference. McCown going down is a huge blow to the Barnkowski.
Not the issue. Namath was pictured hundreds of times drink in hand, babes at his side, before he ever picked up the Duke. Then there was that Bachelors Three thing.
Yea, it is the issue. Manziel can't pass from the pocket. He sucks. If he was good at it he'd have been playing all season and nobody would give a shit if he went to a club on his bye week.
Yup. If they were 9-2 with Manziel lighting it up all year instead of 2-9 with him sucking, he could be doing lines of coke off strippers' asses right now with MVP talk instead of being dropped to the number 3 QB for drinking a little zima
If that's the way you want it, will we have a double standard for all starters or just the skilled positions? Is a backup special teamer expected to adhere to a "morality clause" no star must or shall the guys who get away with certain behaviors be based on the size of their contracts - a dollar value would eliminate all gray areas, right? Shit, with the way you think Brady should be able to kill his wife on the fifty yard line. Would that be true on a week when he lost?
don't be naive ralebird. this double standard you are referring to already exists in the NFL and has for years
Like when Jimmy Johnson cut a special teams guy for falling asleep in a meeting then was asked what would happen to Emmitt if he did that....Jimmy said he'd nudge him and say wake up, Emmitt!
The NFL off the field issue has nothing to do with a 22 year old going to a club and partying. It has everything to do with athletes beating the shit out of females or children. Or murdering people. A 22 year old kid drinking LEGALLY is the least of their worries. If he got in a car and drove away, sure. Let's make it an issue. Other than that it is NOTHING. People saying if manziel was playing good or was a stud they wouldn't care. Well folks, you, me, the coach or the general manager don't know what you even have with him!!! He's started 5 games!
So do many incidents of lousy officiating; are you okay with that, too? Back to the matter at hand - what, specifically, did Manzel do to get benched that a hundred others haven't gotten away with? Sure, he's an underperforming douche bag but don't you have even the slightest problem with employers meddling in the out of work affairs of their workers?
