This comes after Austin Davis was given the start and the Browns were destroyed by the Cincinnati Bengals, 37-3.
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“The Browns is nobody this year so we didn’t have to worry about them”. “It’s an added preparation for the incoming team”.
The Steelers led Cincinnati, 10-6, in the fourth quarter before a couple of late interceptions doomed the Steelers and led to 10 points for the visitors.
Pettine said four more starts, for a total of seven this season, is enough to get a good read on Manziel. I can’t say we’re all on board 100 percent. He’s 1-2 as a starter this season, and will now have four more games to prove to the Browns that he can be their long-term answer at quarterback.
That last statement is telling as it suggests that the Browns are still not convinced that Manziel can go an entire week without doing something that will make headlines for reasons other than playing football. Dalton’s 57-yard pass to wide receiver A.J. Green over cornerback Tramon Williams jump-started the 10-play, 84-yard drive.
Receiver Brian Hartline declined to speak to reporters after the game “because I want to keep a job”.
I bring all that up because the Browns are looking like the worst, or almost worst team in the league.
I honestly could have given this ball to any player in a Bengals’ uniform as everyone had extraordinary games but AJ Green’s impact was just too important not to give notice too.
The Bengals made a bunch of them and their defense put pressure on Browns quarterback Austin Davis, who did the best he could in his first start for Cleveland but may not get another one this season.
Pettine was asked whether Manziel learned anything from his demotion.
Despite beating the Titans, Manziel returned to his backup role for the next six games.
A desultory 37-3 loss to the Bengals on Sunday left Pettine answering questions about his job security.
“Tough. Frustrating”, said Browns coach Mike Pettine, whose days with Cleveland may be dwindling. (What’s the point of having security if you don’t use it?) They also did not activate Dwayne Bowe and prefer to let he and his $9 million guaranteed salary sit on the bench for all but five games this season. “They don’t like us”, offensive lineman David DeCastro said. “You think you’ve got a better roster than a year ago”, said Browns fan Paul Thiel.
The Browns-for-now head coach said Monday the problems were systemic, such that that hasn’t been apparent for the last decade or so. “But it’s done, it’s over with”. I think we all have ideas on how to get it done, and we need to be collaborative and we need to make sure that we’re picking the best ideas and pushing those agendas moving forward.
It was Cleveland’s most lopsided loss since a 41-0 drubbing by Pittsburgh on December 24, 2005.
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Pettine has won just two of his last 17 games, and already had a conference with the owner last month about what he could do to stop this free fall from happening.
