Cleveland Browns Have Waited Long Enough On Johnny Manziel

It was commendable that the Cleveland Browns stuck to their guns as long as they have regarding their quarterback situation, but it’s now, at 7-6 that if they want to make the playoffs they need to grasp every advantage they can find.  Such includes activating Johnny Manziel as their starting quarterback.

Brian Hoyer got more than a fair chance

Here’s the thing.  The Browns said they wanted to wait on starting the rookie for a number of reason.  First, it was to give Brian Hoyer a legitimate chance to prove his case as starter and second to give Manziel time to learn the system from the bench.  With three games left in the season he has done that.  The situation now resides around Hoyer.  In fairness he was given a tough situation having to play with a Browns offense understrength at wide receiver but the fact remains he’s had his chances to deliver the death blow to the Manziel talk and failed.  His game against Indianapolis marked his third-straight without a touchdown pass.  That is unacceptable, especially in the modern NFL.  Whatever magic he had early in the season is gone.

Manziel provides new dimensions in playmaking ability

There is no denying the risks of putting in Johnny Manziel.  He’s a rookie and they make mistakes but there is no denying what the former college star can do.  The reason the Cleveland Browns drafted him was because he’s a playmaker.  Not only can he deliver strikes with his arm but it’s his uncanny knack for improvisation and scrambling that makes him so dangerous for defenses.  That extra dimension might be just the thing the Browns offense needs to snap out of its funk.

The only way to find out is to make the call.