New Browns starting QB Johnny Manziel won’t be disciplined by NFL

Johnny Manziel is the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

For real, this time.

The second-year quarterback apparently did well enough while playing for the injured Josh McCown the past two weeks to prompt Coach Mike Pettine to make the move, which the team announced Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, the NFL announced it found “insufficient basis on which to take disciplinary action” against Manziel. The league had been investigating a recent incident during which Manziel’s girlfriend said he got physical with her but did not press charges.

The Browns suffered a lopsided loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday, 30-9, but Manziel actually played fairly well, after fumbling away the ball the first time he touched it. He completed 33 of 45 passes for a career-high 372 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Manziel had a strong first half against Cincinnati 10 days earlier, completing 11 of 18 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. But he struggled during the final two quarters, just four of 15 passes for 40 yards, and the Browns lost, 31-10.

In three starts this season, Manziel has completed nearly 60% of his throws for 933 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.

At 2-8, the Browns seem to have decided to give their young quarterback some experience and themselves a chance to really see what they’ve got in the former Heisman Trophy winner.