When he was named the starter, Pettine talked to Manziel about appropriately representing the organization.
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Johnny Manziel lost his job as the starting quarterback of the Browns a day after a video and photographs surfaced online showing the 22nd overall pick in last year’s draft partying.
When he was asked about the video while volunteering for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank on Monday, Manziel did not admit to partying in the video and said it could have been old. (As my brother Ralph said: “If I played for the Browns I’d drink a lot too.”) But he also reportedly claimed it didn’t happen at that time. “It was right on the heels of discussions that not just I had with him but Kevin O’Connell and (DeFilippo)”.
McCown could find himself the starter for the rest of the season. You know, you don’t close doors on anything. You never say never in this profession. Pettine refused to elaborate on November 27.
Pettine said much of his displeasure in Manziel stemmed in him not seeming to understand that his behavior was a reflection on the team. So like I said, I’m not in a state to be able to speak on it because my focus has been on this today and what really matters in this game on Monday. The Browns are set to play the Ravens at home Monday night, in what would have been a chance for Manziel to display his talents under the lights in a nationally televised game.
“I can’t stand here and say it’s not – whatever word we want to use – disappointing, frustrating”.
“We do have a much better sense than we did a year ago”, Pettine said.
Then, Manziel went to the people who leaked the video and tried to have them cover up the fact that he was lying about when the video was dated, asking them to corroborate the story to the Browns.
Josh McCown may have struggled previous year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but in 2015, he has done anything but struggle. He’s hoping to be healthy enough to face the Ravens. “We are confident we know what Josh can do”.
Pettine stated that after the video was released, the same coaches that reminded Manziel to behave appropriately before their bye week were also the ones who spoke to him after the posting. Later he was seen in a hallway outside the media room and although he did not address his situation, he seemed relaxed.
“He lied to the Cleveland Browns”, he said.
Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel remain in the league’s concussion protocol after suffering their respective injuries November 15, against the Steelers. “Even the jump that he made from the Cincinnati game to the Pittsburgh game was a huge jump. You lose trust in buckets and you regain it in drops”.
“We are going in with a no-holds barred mentality”, DeFilippo said.
Hawkins caught seven passes for 49 yards and Gabriel four passes for 75 yards when the Browns beat Baltimore last month. “I’m sure you guys can appreciate that”. It’s more than five or six plays at a time that you get out at practice.
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“We went straight at it”, Gruden said regarding his time spent working with Manziel.
