What Will Cleveland Browns Do With Johnny Manziel?
By Erik Lambert
Oct 19, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Richard Dole-USA TODAY Sports
At 4-3, there is no question the Cleveland Browns are in the playoff hunt. The question is what will happen to Johnny Manziel if they make it?
Brian Hoyer playing how the team needs him to play
The team invested a 1st round pick in the Texas A&M product because they felt they needed a franchise quarterback, but that was before they saw what Brian Hoyer could do. The 29-year old Cleveland native is a huge reason why the team is competitive in the AFC North. His numbers aren’t staggering but he’s played very efficient with just three turnovers all season and his leadership in the huddle is hard to discount.
Hoyer is a free agent in 2015 and if he can finish this NFL season strong and even get the Browns to the playoffs, his value should skyrockets among teams in search of quarterback help. That, in turn puts the Browns in a serious dilemma. They made a large commitment to Johnny Manziel when they traded up to get him in the 1st round of the draft last May. Do they simply dismiss that and go with the hot hand or do they take the risk by letting Hoyer leave and giving the reins to Manziel after a year on the bench?
Some will see it as an unenviable position. The saying goes when a team has two quarterbacks they have no quarterbacks. So there really is only two ways for them to go. Either the Cleveland Browns stay the course and let Brian Hoyer walk next March, handing the keys to Manziel. Or they hand Hoyer a new contract to become their long-term starter and more than likely trade Manziel to another team.
Neither scenario sounds very appealing, but the fact is there is none in which both players can be kept on the team and happy.