Johnny Manziel told the media at the beginning of the season that when his number was called he would be ready to play. For 12 weeks that failed to happen, but during an ugly loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 13 Manziel got his name called in the fourth quarter and proceeded to lead a scoring drive for the Cleveland Browns that prevented embarrassment. Now as head coach Mike Pettine prepares to decide the best option at quarterback going forward, players are speaking out in support of Manziel as an option.
According to Pettine, no decision has been made yet regarding who will start Week 14 against the Indianapolis Colts. Pettine wants to observe both players in practice before making the call. Cleveland is still in the hunt for the postseason so the quarterback position needs to be right if the Browns are going to see the playoffs.
"(I'm) not ready to make a decision on that at this point,'' Pettine said, via Cleveland.com. "I'm not leaning one way or the other, but there's a lot to consider. I don't know where I want to go, and it's certainly important. We'll spend a lot of time on it. I'll lean on the people I trust to help make it."
Some of the players appear to have made their call for who should be starting at quarterback. While everyone has remained loyal to Hoyer over the past few weeks despite his struggles, it was Manziel that got the offense moving and some players would prefer to see the rookie under center over the veteran.
We just figure, as receivers, we have to work more," wide receiver Travis Benjamin said. "If Johnny comes in the huddle and he pronounces the play wrong, we've got to make sure we correct it. We've got to make sure we correct him. Offensive linemen, tight ends, all the receivers, all the running backs, we've just got to make sure we've got to be in form when he's in the game. . . .Johnny is a baller, no matter what. Ready or not, you put him in the game and if he doesn't make the play with his arm, he'll make the play with his legs."
Players like Josh Gordon and Terrence West have said the same thing in regards to Manziel. However, Hoyer says that players do not go 7-5 by accident and he still believes that the Browns are his team regardless. Pettine wants the competition and he is certainly getting it.
"We believe that competition is a cornerstone of what we do,'' Pettine said. "We do look at the body of work, but I think given the play recently at that position that it's time to discuss it....it's our normal procedure that we do week to week, and this week is no different."
