The Cleveland Browns got a rare win on Sunday and it was all thanks to the arm of Johnny Manziel. The quarterback got the start in Week 14 and did everything he could to make the most of it. The end result was the Browns beating the San Francisco 49ers and Manziel likely getting the starting nod for the remainder of the season. However, are the Browns putting Manziel on display to see if he has a future in the franchise or because they hope another team eyes him for a trade?
The Manziel trade rumors have been flying for some time now to the point where credible sources like ESPN's Adam Schefter are reporting that teams like the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco could be ready to make a move for the quarterback in the coming offseason. It did not help the quarterback's case when his agent, Erik Burkhardt, tweet, "Fact: Cowboys would have cruised to the division title if they only had a backup QB..." According to Burkhardt, that was not a plea to move Manziel down to Texas, although it is a perfect fit.
The quarterback knows he is auditioning. He looked the part in Week 14 going 21 of 31 for 270 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He did so with a cast of injured receivers that only got worse as time went on. With Travis Benjamin hobbled, Dwayne Bowe inactive and Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel out, Manziel did not have much to work with. ESPN.com then reported Brian Hartline was officially lost for the season after breaking his collarbone. Manziel relied heavily on the run game including Isaiah Crowell who had 145 yards on the ground for two touchdowns. According to the quarterback, he is just getting started in Cleveland.
"I've only gotten to play six or seven games," Manziel said, via Cleveland.com. "I know the number is starting to climb, but for me, these mean a lot to me. I still have a lot to prove. I feel like I'm just getting started. I'm going to continue to play, continue to fight. I know these guys are going to be with me too."
Cleveland must decide pretty quickly if Manziel is sticking around or not. With a top draft pick coming their way, the Browns will need to decide if it will be used on a quarterback or someone else. Josh McCown is not a long-term option and neither is Austin Davis. The Browns need to decide if Manziel is or not. The quarterback is playing better and a trade could end up coming their way if that is the option they decide to take. According to ESPN.com, the Browns should only move Manziel if they are 100 percent certain he is not the guy for the team. Considering Cleveland continues to get linked to other big quarterback trades, it will not be a surprise if they try and move past Manziel this offseason.