TMZ reports that there is dissension among players in Cleveland after Johnny Manziel was benched in favor of veteran quarterback Josh McCown.
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Mike Pettine says Josh McCown was never in danger of being replaced by Johnny Manziel against the Raiders. “Certainly. I’m confident that there’s no rift in the locker room”. “When you have a three-and-out early in the game and you put your defense behind the 8-ball, not getting the rest that they need, it becomes tough on them and you don’t get the opportunity to extend drives, to get the plays called that you want and set things up”. However, I would not be surprised one bit if this is what Browns’ players are thinking.
“The team plays better when (Manziel) is in the game”, another player told TMZ Sports.
Making his home debut in front of a few Cleveland fans chanting for Johnny Manziel to play, McCown injured his throwing hand during Sunday’s loss to Oakland but doesn’t expect to miss any practice time. You can’t get better unless you play.
Cleveland signed Davis just prior to the start of the 2015 season, and although he is buried behind McCown and Johnny Football on the depth chart, the organization clearly likes what it has seen out of the former Southern Mississippi standout thus far.
Chances are the Browns will have to sink to 1-6 or worse before starting to see if Manziel can get the job done consistently.
Obviously, Pettine wants to win too. This past Sunday the Raiders silenced their critics, with a road win in Cleveland against the Browns.
“Are we going to have 1000% agreement on how we’re using players and how we’re doing that?”
Asked about the peculiar timing of the deal, with Farmer still sequestered from team business, Pettine said interim GM Bill Kuharich and salary negotiator Sashi Brown are conducting business as usual.
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He acknowledged it was his first extended play since the final preseason game in Tampa August 29th. “It hasn’t started out the way that we’ve all, including Dwayne, wanted it to, but we’re confident that we’ll get him contributing here sooner than later.”… Desmond Bryant, K’Waun Williams and Scott Solomon are questionable. Many eastern-based teams depart for games on the West Coast on Friday, but Pettine will take the Browns to San Diego on Saturday.
