As of now the Browns seem very conflicted on who they want to start Week 1 in Pittsburgh. The battle is between a veteran with little experience in Brian Hoyer, and the rookie Johnny Manziel. Former Super Bowl QB Rex Grossman is also on the team, and could enter the mix soon. The competition remains close, and the reason the coaches seem to still be undecided isn't because both QB's deserve it. It's because neither QB has stood out and proved that they are ready to start consistently in the NFL. The Browns are coming off a horrendous game statistically against the Redskins in which Hoyer and Manziel combined to go 9/22 for 81 yards, and 1 TD. The Browns were expected to announce a starter by week 3 (this week), and announced that they would name one on Tuesday, but never did. Obviously they need a starter for week 1, and I believe they were banking on Manziel to breakout in the preseason and pull away in the competition, which he has not come close to doing. In fact, he has gone in the complete opposite direction both on and off the field. Johnny Manziel has struggled to show he can be successful at the next level, and because of Brian Hoyer struggling in this competition on the field, the Browns need more time to figure out what they need to do, and possibly explore other options. Johnny Manziel helped Texas A&M succeed in a tough SEC conference in college, and many believed he would be the exception in the opinion that running QB's can't make it in the NFL. Instead, he has not only added to that critique so far, but also has taken a lot of criticism for many more reasons. Manziel has given the fans and coaches too many examples of why he is not ready to start at the NFL level. It has been an up and down, roller coaster ride since the day he was drafted, and he is seemingly going in the wrong direction since the beginning of training camp. Manziel has been caught "partying" a little too much while in college, getting in to a couple altercations at college parties, and then complaining about the media following him and not allowing him to have his fun, although at times it was inappropriate, after being drafted by Cleveland. Manziel failed to realize that when you become one of the biggest stars in a city, you will draw a lot of attention no matter where you go. He then admitted to at times being immature about that subject while arriving at training camp for the first time, showing signs of possible maturity. His immaturity would translate to the field once camp and preseason began, struggling to remember plays, and forgetting them after the ball was snapped. He has since depended a little too much on his legs in the first two preseason games, and hasn't shown much of an arm. His immaturity reached a new level on Monday during a game in Washington where he was seen flipping the bird to the Redskins bench following a play. The cause of this incident is said to be the comment "This isn't college anymore." Monday's incident was just another example of Johnny Manziel proving he is not ready to start under center in the NFL.
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