NFL Rumors: Johnny Manziel Named Starting Quarterback For Cleveland Browns
NFL rumors have Johnny Manziel named as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. The NFL now has a Johnny Manziel vs. Marcus Mariota game on the schedule, giving analysts a lot to discuss for Week 2. A report from NFL.com confirms that Josh McCown is still dealing with concussion symptoms and will not be able to play against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, September 20.
Manziel saw some action against in Week 1 against the New York Jets, coming into the game after McCown was injured on a drive. The results were a bit mixed, with Manziel completing just 13 of 24 passes. He did connect with receiver Travis Benjamin on a 54-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. This was his first touchdown pass since coming into the NFL through the 2014 draft. Manziel finished the game with 182 passing yards, an interception, and the single touchdown pass to Benjamin.
There had been a lot of NFL rumors about how Johnny Manziel could get the starting job for this season, but he was beaten in training camp by McCown. Now Manziel has a chance to show what he can do in Week 2 against a Titans defense known for allowing big plays. A lot of running plays could be used by the Browns to keep Manziel mobile. He ran the ball five times in Week 1, racking up 35 yards on the ground. It couldn’t make up for the weak running game the Browns running backs had, though.
Marcus Mariota had a great Week 1 performance, leading the Tennessee Titans to a victory over Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mariota completed 13 of 16 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns, giving him a quarterback rating of 158.3 for the day. He only ran the ball two times for six yards, with the team relying more on his arm in the opener. The speed is there for the team to fall back on if the secondary for the Browns plays him tough.
Game time for the Cleveland Browns vs. Tennessee Titans is 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, with CBS providing the local coverage. Johnny Manziel will get to be the starting quarterback in front of his hometown fans, but he needs to put up some results to avoid boos. Browns fans have been waiting too long to see a winner on the field again. As for who will be the Browns’ starting quarterback in Week 3, that will be addressed in NFL rumors from next week.
[Image Source: Rich Schultz /Getty Images]
