The Cleveland Browns are coming into training camp with Josh McCown as the starter over Johnny Manziel and Connor Shaw for head coach Mike Pettine and this comes as the team has Terrelle Pryor trying to make the roster as a wide receiver or special teams player after making the transition from QB this offseason.
The Browns are looking to bounce back after a tough finish to last season and Tony Grossi at ESPN Cleveland writes that there are some major questions for the team, but likely not at QB. After speaking with Pettine ahead of camp opening up, Grossi writes that McCown is coming in as the "clear No. 1" and while Pettine didn't "guarantee" that McCown would be the starter, that appears to be the plan for the team.
Manziel was labeled as the "clear-cut" number two buy Pettine and that is promising for Manziel, as he had a tough year and could have been pushed back by the staff for Connor Shaw or Thad Lewis. The team feels comfortable with Lewis and Shaw at the number three spot and that give Manziel the chance to backup McCown heading into the season. McCown could be formally named the starter during camp, but Pettine did not give a timetable about that. McCown comes in after a tough season with the Buccaneers and he was signed as a free agent over Brian Hoyer, who was allowed to leave for the Texans. McCown played in 11 games last season and 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for the Bucs.
Manziel had a tough rookie year and offseason with mediocre play and rehab, but he has been looking better since coming out. According to ESPN.com, Manziel has worked with Jon Gruden this offseason and that could help him as he comes into year two as an NFL QB. Manziel comes in after playing in five games last season and throwing two picks, rushing for 29 yards and throwing for 175 yards. The team knows that Manziel has much more to learn and that McCown likely is the best option to open the season.
Pryor comes in looking to make the team and while Mary Kay Cabot reports that Pettine has "not closed the door" on Pryor as a QB, he likely will only play as a WR or slash player for the Browns. Pryor is trying to make the roster coming out of camp and he has some competition with Taylor Gabriel, Vince Mayle, Marlon Moore and Travis Benjamin behind Brian Hartline and Andrew Hawkins. Pryor comes in after last playing for the Raiders in 2013 when he rushed for 576 yards and threw for 1798 yards with seven TDs and 11 picks.