Browns bench Manziel after boozy weekend
Now he’s Johnny No Football. Browns coach Mike Pettine dropped Johnny Manziel to the team’s thirdstring quarterback following his latest frat boy behavior. Manziel had been given the starting job for the first time since last season before a video of him partying in Texas was published by TMZ on Monday.
Pettine called Manziel’s latests boozing “disappointing. Very.”
On Tuesday, the team released a statement saying Manziel was behind Josh McCown, who will start Monday against Baltimore, and Austin Davis in Cleveland’s quarterback pecking order.
“Everyone in this organization wants what is best for Johnny just like we do for every player in our locker room,” Pettine said of Manziel, who spent two months in rehab this offseason.
“I’m especially disappointed in his actions and behavior because he has been working very hard. The improvements from last year to this year have been tremendous but he still has to consistently demonstrate that he has gained a good understanding of what it takes to be successful at the quarterback position on this level. It goes well beyond the field. We are going to continue to support him in every way possible, but at this point, we’ve decided it’s best to go with Josh as the starter going forward.”
The Browns brass and the NFL didn’t punish Manziel following his runin with the police after an alcoholfueled feud with girlfriend Colleen Crowley. But this appears to be Manziel’s last chance with the team this season, and there’s nothing but uncertainty beyond that for the 2014 firstround pick.
Pettine met with Manziel following practice Tuesday and informed him of his choice to bench him for the foreseeable future. Pettine, whose job could be in jeopardy if the Browns (28) don’t demonstrate some progress the rest of this season, said owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Ray Farmer support his decision.
The 22yearold Manziel has developed on the field during his second NFL season. However, despite saying he had learned from his past mistakes, Manziel, who spent 70 days during the offseason in a rehab facility specializing in alcohol and drug treatment, has not shown the maturity the Browns are looking for from their quarterback.
“My hope for him is, whatever those choices that he’s making, that they’re healthy choices and they’re good for him as a person,” McCown said. “When you’re in that room with somebody and spend as much time as we do together, there’s a connection there.”