The Cleveland Browns are trying to diffuse attention away from their pending quarterback battle and it simply is not working. Once the team drafted Johnny Manziel, the media was off to the races, but head coach Mike Pettine continues to act like all is normal on the home front. Cleveland started their week off with trade rumors and now tardiness as Pettine works to name a full-time starting quarterback and get out of the headlines.
First Pettine was forced to defuse the idea that the Browns were trading Hoyer to the Houston Texans in exchange for wide receiver Andre Johnson. ESPN's Ed Werder first hinted at the move after Cleveland signed Rex Grossman to add to the lineup. The Houston Chronicle than hopped on the bandwagon and the rumors were off. On the outside, this trade did actually make sense. The Browns appear likely to start Manziel this season considering he is the fan pressure. With Grossman being the capable backup quarterback, Hoyer was expendable. Josh Gordon was preparing to be suspended, so why not replace the best with the best? Pettine immediately denied the idea.
"No, absolutely not," Pettine said, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "We were looking to upgrade that third spot. We think the world of Brian and he's been really solid for us. He's done nothing to have that job taken away and we're really pleased with where he is. A lot of people don't realize when he played in Detroit, it was his first live action since coming off a serious knee injury and we thought he handled himself very well. We're not going to comment on every story that's out there,"
Once that rumor was put to rest, Manziel opted to be late to work, causing yet another media firestorm. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported the rookie and three other young players misread the schedule, but of course because Manziel is involved, the story went every direction likely giving Pettine another headache for the week.
As the Browns prepare to play the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football, Pettine is not going to give the media the showcase they desire. While many want to see Robert Griffin III take on Manziel in a battle of the read option. Pettine announced on Thursday that Hoyer would be the starter over the rookie in Week 2.
"It's just something right now where we are comfortable with Brian going out there to start the game," Pettine said. "I think it's a little overblown as to who the starter is going to be. The key component, as I've stated earlier this week, is that we are going to balance the reps."
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns are looking to name the season's full-time starter sometime next week. Pettine noted that Hoyer is looking strong in training camp and the coaching staff would sit down next week and make a decision for the future.
