The fact that the Browns are even talking about him becoming the starter moving forward is a notable chapter in the comeback story Manziel hopes to continue to write.
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This is what it felt like back then. Here, Manziel read the blitz and understood the need to get rolling.
Manziel led the Browns past the Titans 28-14 Sunday in his first start of the 2015 season.
While an argument could be made that the Browns need to see what they have in the 22-year-old Manziel, Pettine said his status as a first-round pick is not a factor in any decision. If Johnny Manziel was unable to hit Travis Benjamin, deep twice, the result of this game could have been very different.
Despite Manziel delivering in the clutch for the Browns – his 50-yard touchdown pass to Benjamin sealed the win with 2:52 left in the fourth quarter – there are reasons to believe Pettine is leaning toward sticking with McCown. “When a play breaks down that is what he brings”. Mariota finished 21 of 37 for 257 yards.
His Titans counterpart, Mariota, did fine but was unable to repeat his stellar debut performance wherein he threw for four touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. “We understood that going in”. Anybody that knows him knows how genuine he is, how passionate he is about football and about his teammates, and just wanting to win regardless of what his role is.
Matt Ryan (ATL) vs. Giants: The ease at which a Dez Bryant-less Dallas passing game marched down the field on the last two crucial drives of Week 1’s matchup with the Giants’ secondary revealed just how bad this unit really is. This was a chance for redemption for Manziel, who played poorly when he got on the field in 2014 and spent most of the winter in a rehab facility.
He didn’t run around like his shoes were on fire: Against the Jets, some of Manziel’s scrambles looked like one of those balloons that are inflated and released. “To be sitting here today and just have an ultimate turnaround from what it was in the first two starts I had past year, personally it feels awesome”.
“I haven’t talked to [head athletic trainer] Joe [Sheehan] about Johnny’s soreness, so I don’t think there’s anything significant”, Pettine said.
I’ve already stated my personal opinion on who should start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns next week and beyond. He looked like a starting quarterback in the National Football League.
A single solid, but far from spectacular start by Manziel shouldn’t change that. Manziel showed he belonged.
The quick TD energized Cleveland’s crowd and gave Manziel a boost of confidence.
The last time these clubs met dates back to October of last season when the Browns prevailed over the Raiders by a final score of 23-13 in front of a sold-out Cleveland crowd. His 154 return yards were just 25 shy of his team record set in 2013. Benjamin picked up a few blocks, including Pierre Desir’s knockdown of Kern, who was face down as Benjamin hurdled over him and scored. Cleveland lost this game, 31-10, and Manziel only came in after McCown suffered a concussion trying to repeat John Elway’s propeller run in Super Bowl XXXII.
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“To me, it’s a positive conversation because you have a young quarterback that’s been through a lot, that has gone out and led his team to a win”, Pettine said.
