Cleveland Browns: What Is Johnny Manziel’s Future?

Sep 13, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) looks to pass during the first half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. McCown was injured and left the game at the end of the drive. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

Wait Another Game Before Going Back To McCown

Kris Grimes

It’s probably a question that won’t take long to get an answer, but Josh McCown won’t make it all 14 games without another significant injury. Not with the way he threw caution to the wind in the preseason and the way he ran in week one going for the TD.

I get that he’s a competitor and that he’s gonna give it his all, but there’s a time for that and there’s a time to chill. Week one of the season on the first drive is not the time to go all out. Thus, I go on record saying Johnny Manziel will get another shot to start in 2015.

Is it only by injury to McCown that gets Manziel another shot? No, but it gives him the best shot before the bye week in Week 11. Pettine’s making it blatantly obvious that he favors McCown over Manziel. He waited till McCown failed the final test last Friday, and made the quick decision on Wednesday when he was cleared that he’s the starter.

No Butch Davis “gut” feeling or Romeo Crennel flip of a coin, just a point driving decision. McCown will be the starter for the Cleveland Browns until such a time comes that he is too injured to play or the season completely comes off its rails.

Then and only then will the Browns coaching staff be forced to see what they have in Johnny vs whether there’s a better player worth a top 10 pick. That said, if it were up to me, I give Manziel one more week. Why? The guy has started three games in his career now, and last week’s performance showed promise.

It showed how much he has grown and how much he’s learned. It’s time to gauge where he is! Is he ready to start in 2016? Does he need more time to mature and learn NFL football? Cleveland Browns fans want playoffs, winning football, and players to root for. McCown could be that guy, but if he is, it might only be for 2-3 years at best?

Let’s put in Johnny, see if he can duplicate his success, and then evaluate where is! If Manziel fails you bring back McCown in Week 4 fully healed. If he succeeds, we’ll let him keep going! Fans want to find the answer at QB, and the only way to truly judge, is to let Johnny play. Yet that won’t happen barring injury, or a complete meltdown from McCown.

Next: Future Could Go Different Ways