Is the Johnny Football Era in Cleveland really, truly, finally under way? Maybe! Browns head coach Mike Pettine named Johnny Manziel the starter for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, but noted that Week 1 starter Josh McCown is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Pettine said time and time again this offseason that he wanted McCown to be his starter this season, but if Manziel actually has a good game against the Titans, it seems a bit difficult to imagine that he wouldn’t have a chance to run with the starting job. The 36-year-old McCown may have had a magical half-season with the Chicago Bears in 2013, but he’s not the caliber of QB who should have a guaranteed spot in the lineup, even if a younger, more promising(?) talent comes along.
Of course, there are serious questions about Manziel’s ability to play in this league, but the Titans defense made Jameis Winston look downright awful in Week 1, so if Johnny Football can at least demonstrate competence, he should have a chance to run with the job. At the very least, a Manziel-Mariota showdown sounds like the most fun Titans-Browns game in history. Two running quarterbacks with questionable talent around them, facing defenses with question marks? Anything can happen.
(Via Browns.com)
