Johnny Manziel to start Sunday for Browns

It’s all in front of Johnny Manziel: The chance to silence the critics and prove he belongs in the NFL. On Sunday, Manziel can restart his career. His shot at redemption.

Manziel will start Cleveland’s home opener against Tennessee — and fellow Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota — because Josh McCown remains out because of a concussion sustained when he was hit while trying to dive into the end zone on the opening drive last week in New York.

This will be Manziel’s third NFL start, and he’s counting on it going a lot better than the two last year when Johnny Football was an ill-prepared, overwhelmed rookie who didn’t look the part of a pro quarterback.

After an off-season that included a 10-week stint in rehab and a renewed commitment to his profession, Manziel feels more prepared to take on the Titans than he did a year ago when his first start against Cincinnati ended with an embarrassing 30-0 shellacking at home.

“I definitely feel I’m in a lot better place now,” he said Friday. “So I guess if I thought I was prepared then, I think I’m even more prepared now. I definitely feel a lot better.”

McCown had been expected to practice Friday, but Coach Mike Pettine said the 36-year-old suffered “a setback” while following the NFL’s protocol on head injuries. McCown briefly stopped to gather his belongings and was not available for interviews while Cleveland’s locker room was open to reporters.

The Browns had assumed McCown might not be ready, so Manziel, who completed 13 of 26 passes with no touchdowns in his two starts last year, took the majority of snaps with the Browns’ starters this week.

Researchers release CTE figures

Researchers studying a degenerative disease in former athletes say 11 of 12 brains of deceased former NFL players tested over the past year showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, continuing a trend they’ve been tracking.

A story posted on PBS.org on Friday reported that a total of 87 of the 91 brains of former NFL players examined in recent years by researchers with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Boston University have had CTE.

According to PBS, many players whose brains were donated for research suspected they had CTE, which therefore skews the population of brains being examined.

Gina DiGravio-Wilczewski, media relations manager at the Boston University School of Medicine, provided the Associated Press with the figures for the past year of research.

Linked to repeated brain trauma, CTE is associated with symptoms such as memory loss, impaired judgment, depression, and, eventually, progressive dementia.

NFL issues fines

Atlanta strong safety William Moore has been fined $23,152 for initiating contact with the crown of his helmet against Eagles receiver Jordan Matthews during the Falcons’ 26-24 win Monday night.

The NFL announced the fine Friday.

Moore did not draw a penalty on the play, later determined to be a helmet-to-helmet hit. He has previously been fined nearly $100,000 in other seasons for illegal hits.

Dallas defensive lineman Jeremy Mincey and Cincinnati defensive end Carlos Dunlap each were fined $8,681, Mincey for a post-play hit to Giants tackle Ereck Flowers, Dunlap for unnecessary roughness against Oakland lineman Austin Howard, who also was docked the same amount.

Cleveland running back Isaiah Crowell was fined $8,681 for a chop block against the Jets.

Arrests made after parking lot attack at Levi’s Stadium

The Santa Clara Police department says four people have been arrested on suspicion of felony assault in the beating of a Vikings fan outside Levi’s Stadium after the San Francisco 49ers’ 20-3 victory over Minnesota on Monday night. One was a season-ticket holder.

Police said Friday the arrests were made late Thursday. When police arrived to the scene after the game all parties involved had left. But a video of the assault surfaced Tuesday morning on social media and helped lead to the arrests of Felix Chavira, 32, of Hollister; Juan Arias, 33, of Hollister; Eric Martinez, 30, of San Jose; and a 17-year-old female juvenile.

The three men were taken to Santa Clara County Jail and the juvenile was issued a criminal citation and released to her parents, police said. The 49ers say one of the people was a season ticket-holder but those tickets are being revoked.

Police said the 35-year-old victim wearing a Vikings jersey suffered non-life-threatening injuries, along with an 18-year-old security officer.

Etc.

Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson was limited in practice for the second straight day Friday, leaving his status in jeopardy for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. The 38-year-old is trying to recover from a dislocated shoulder he suffered late in last week’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. … San Francisco running back Reggie Bush wasn’t scheduled to travel to Pittsburgh for Sunday’s game in order to continue treatment on his injured left calf he sustained in the first quarter of Monday’s opener. … Receiver-returner Jacoby Jones, guard D.J. Fluker and safety Jahleel Addae of the San Diego Chargers are listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game at Cincinnati. Fluker could be out for a several weeks with a high ankle sprain. Addae and Jones also have ankle injuries. … The Green Bay Packers will be without veteran right tackle Bryan Bulaga for their home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. Coach Mike McCarthy said Friday that Bulaga injured his left knee in practice on Thursday. … Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed is considered questionable for Sunday’s game against the visiting St. Louis Rams because of a bothersome leg muscle. … Miami Dolphins tight end Dion Sims has been ruled out of Sunday’s game at Jacksonville because of a concussion suffered last week. … Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera says middle linebacker Luke Kuechly is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans. … Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy is questionable for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots because of a hamstring injury. … Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Luke Joeckel and strong safety Johnathan Cyprien both missed practice Friday. Joeckel (ankle injury) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins and Cyprien (calf) is doubtful. … Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals because of a hamstring injury. … Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew has been ruled out for Sunday’s game at Minnesota because of a hamstring injury.