Cleveland Browns should wait before throwing millions at Brian Hoyer
By Glenn Moore
Happy birthday, Brian Hoyer. Coming off a trouncing the Pittsburgh Steelers while playing for your hometown Cleveland Browns, you have reason to celebrate. But just because you make a wish for millions of dollars and blow out the candles on the cake, doesn’t mean it will come true.
Yes, Hoyer has done more in eight games than any Browns quarterback in recent memory. Derek Anderson had a great year in 2007, but we all know how that ended.
As the Browns starter, Hoyer is 6-2. That is tops when it comes to winning percentage among the 20 quarterbacks to start for Cleveland since their return in 1999. It’s a small sample, but in those eight games spanning two seasons, Hoyer has won the hearts of fans and put the Browns back on the football map from a national perspective.
But will the small sample and hometown fan base going crazy be enough to warrant a huge contract for Hoyer during or at the end of the season? The debate will be argued until the Browns make a decision.
Sep 21, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
There’s also the Johnny Manziel factor.
According a report from Jason Cole at Bleacher Report, Hoyer won’t make a long-term commitment to the Browns if Manziel remains on the team. He adds that even if the Browns offer Hoyer a deal that climbs upward to $12 million a year, “he’s not going to accept that deal if he still thinks there’s a challenge coming from Johnny Manziel.”
When Hoyer was asked about over and over Monday at media availability in Berea about if he would sign a long-term deal if Manziel was still in Cleveland, Hoyer said “I’m not going to answer that question.”
Obviously, this puts the Browns in a tight spot if Hoyer continues to produce and win games. If Hoyer finishes the season with a winning record and the Browns continue to improve, do you give Hoyer the money and trade Manziel? Or do you take a chance in letting Hoyer go and hope Manziel is ready to be the starting quarterback after seeing limited action in his first year?
In eight games as a starter, Hoyer has put up some great numbers. He’s 147-for-245 for 1,839 yards. More importantly is his touchdown-to-interception ratio, which stands at 12-to-4. He’s only thrown one interception this season in 149 pass attempts.
He’s done with this a cast of average wide receivers, no Josh Gordon and a Jordan Cameron that has played below-par so far this season. He’s made players around him better. The offensive line has improved and with a respectable passing game, the rushing attack has been more efficient this season than years past.
But is he worth $10 to $12 million a year? Right now, no.
The Browns should hold off on signing Hoyer to that much money. A full season of production and a playoff berth would be in order before offering that type of money and trading your first-round draft pick in Manziel.
Hoyer has not done enough to dictate his competition.
Oct 5, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) looks to throw a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter of their game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Giving Hoyer what he wants money wise would put him in a high-profile group of quarterbacks. Other players making what Hoyer wants are Sam Bradford ($14 million a year), Philip Rivers ($13.8 million), Ben Roethlisberger ($12.1 million), Drew Brees ($10.7 million) and Matt Ryan ($9.5 million).
For right now, Hoyer and the Browns are riding high after a win against their rival, the Steelers. They have three winnable games coming up and could be in the driver’s seat in the AFC North if they take care of business.
The best thing for Hoyer is to continue to win and keep Manziel on the bench. Everything will work out for both sides when the season is over.
Until then, the Browns should keep the phone lines open for teams calling about Manziel. And have that checkbook ready for Hoyer if he takes the Browns to their best season since Hoyer was just a young boy.