In the embattled quarterback’s first game since exiting the coaching staff’s doghouse, he completed 21-of-31 passes for 270 yards and one touchdown with an interception in a 24-10 victory against the San Francisco 49ers. One of these blunders, his most recent, came after the team specifically asked him not to do anything stupid.
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Manziel was back on the field after being benched two games by Pettine for partying during Cleveland’s bye week after he had promised not to be a distraction.
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Corey Lemonier (96) grabs the face mask of Cleveland Browns q … “He did a lot more good than he did bad”.
The Browns remain a team in transition, but committing to a 23-year-old who has a knack for keeping plays alive while improving his overall IQ and pocket presence should be a priority.
“I’m not sitting here saying we’re going to win them all, but I can tell you for sure that we’re going to come out and we’re going to fight”.
Johnny Manziel rebounded from an interception and a subsequent sideline outburst late in the first half to help the Browns snap a seven-game losing streak Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.
“This isn’t freaking (Texas) A&M, ” he said, adding the tablet survived the head-butting.
There was a lot to like about Manziel’s game on Sunday and even when he did make a mistake – the throw across his body that was intercepted, missing Duke Johnson and Gary Barnidge when they were both wide open – they are the type of mistakes that should prove correctable rather than fatal.
If the pros and cons for that were figurative angels and devils on my shoulder, the devils’ side feels it’s lugging the 40-pound souvenir-laden computer bag I brought back from Kansas City.
Browns legend and former running back Greg Pruitt stopped at Fox 8 News Monday to break down the game.
But in a win against the San Francisco 49ers Manziel seems to be winning some trust from those not named Pettine.
The joy was a bit short-lived, however, because of the need for Browns fans divided over quarterback Johnny Manziel’s future with the team to rush out and gloat at all the “haters” after Manziel’s performance on Sunday. “We know that this is a formidable opponent in one of the most hostile environments in the league”.
Quarterback Blaine Gabbert was sacked nine times, and the 49ers’ offensive line – despite the return of center Daniel Kilgore – was continuously beaten at the line of scrimmage. “We got the win last week and maybe we got a little big headed”. Through 12 career games, Johnny Manziel has been viewed differently than most other young quarterbacks. He started the next game, got hurt early, and didn’t play again.
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“This is a guy who is a leader in the locker room, a leader in the meeting rooms, ” Pettine said.
