Cleveland Browns News: Team Supporting Johnny Manziel, But Looking For A New Quarterback

The Cleveland Browns are standing behind Johnny Manziel after the troubled quarterback decided to go to rehab, but they’re not holding a spot in the backfield for him.

This week, coach Mike Pettine said the organization is proud of Manziel for admitting that he had a problem and seeking treatment, adding that Manziel have have been facing more serious issues that the team knew when drafting him.

“We had the same information everyone else in the league had,” Pettine said. “It’s easy to look back now and say, ‘What did you miss?’ You can interpret something a little bit differently now and it turns out to be a deeper-rooted thing than you thought.”

Pettine also paid Manziel a visit in rehab, letting him know that the team was supporting him.

“I just wanted to go visit him and see how he’s doing, let him know that we’re proud of him for the decision he made to go in,” Pettine said. “Obviously he has our full support… He stepped up and said, ‘I need help.'”

But while the Cleveland Browns are supporting Manziel, they are also actively hunting for another quarterback. The team is reportedly considering re-signing last year’s starter Brian Hoyer, and may have their eyes on a big move in the upcoming NFL draft.

Sources indicate that the Browns may try to move up for Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota, and have already begun making a play for the Heisman Trophy winner. The team made an arrangement to hire Kevin O’Connell, who is working with Mariota, as its future quarterbacks coach. This gives the Browns access to Mariota when other teams are still barred from communicating with him, a loophole that isn’t sitting well with some in the league.

“So let me get this straight,” a high-level executive with another team told Pro Football Talk. “The Browns can have their quarterbacks coach in waiting work with a player, teach him the entire offense, etc., but we can’t even talk to any potential draft pick until the Combine per league rules? Something is wrong here.”

The Cleveland Browns have already used first-round draft picks on quarterbacks in two of the last three drafts. Aside from Johnny Manziel, the Browns also picked up Brandon Weeden, who has since moved on to be a backup in Dallas.