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Browns coach Pettine says Manziel making QB conversation interesting is ‘a positive thing’

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Akron Beacon Journal

BEREA, Ohio Johnny Manziel has overcome long odds to force Browns coach Mike Pettine to consider switching starting quarterbacks after just two games this season.

Pettine explained he would meet with his coaching staff Monday night to discuss whether Manziel or veteran Josh McCown should start once McCown is cleared by an independent neurologist to return from the concussion he suffered last week in a season-opening, 31-10 loss to the New York Jets.

Pettine acknowledged Manziel has made the conversation interesting by connecting with wide receiver Travis Benjamin for touchdowns of 60 and 50 yards and leading the Browns to a 28-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in the home opener at FirstEnergy Stadium.

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“That’s a good thing. That’s a positive thing,” Pettine said Monday. “Johnny’s made a lot of progress in the right direction. Still a lot of things to get cleaned up, but we certainly feel like the arrow’s up.”

It was Manziel’s first win as a starter after he went 0-2 as a rookie last season, when whatever could go wrong for the former Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M University, did go wrong. Manziel’s personal issues played a significant role in the misery and led to his offseason stay in an inpatient rehabilitation facility.

The fact that the Browns are even talking about him becoming the starter moving forward is a notable chapter in the comeback story Manziel hopes to continue to write.

“It’s a positive conversation because you have a young quarterback that’s been through a lot, that has gone out and led his team to a win,” Pettine said. “We were all able to enjoy it last night. I’m proud of him because if you had said back early in the offseason if this was going to happen, I think a lot of people would have said, ‘Pretty slim chance.’ I’m very proud of him and the rest of the guys for putting it together and winning the home opener.”

The quarterback decision always has the potential to be a season-defining one because of the importance of the position.

Pettine might need to make the call as early as this week while the Browns (1-1) prepare to host the Oakland Raiders (1-1) on Sunday because McCown could return to practice soon.

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“Josh is still in the 1/8concussion3/8 protocol,” Pettine said. “We’ll know in the next day or so whether he’ll be able to start practicing on Wednesday.

“Until Josh is cleared, there’s not much thought process there just because 1/8Manziel3/8 is the starter right now with the fact that Josh is out. But we’ll have the ‘what-if’ discussion 1/8Monday night3/8, and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Despite Manziel delivering in the clutch for the Browns his 50-yard touchdown pass to Benjamin sealed the win with 2:52 left in the fourth quarter there are reasons to believe Pettine is leaning toward sticking with McCown.

Not only did Pettine label McCown “firmly” the No. 1 quarterback throughout the summer, but he also said Thursday he couldn’t see a reason why the Browns wouldn’t start McCown against the Titans if he were cleared from the concussion in time to practice Friday.

Also, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King interviewed Pettine by phone after the game Sunday night for his Monday Morning Quarterback column. After the conversation, King offered this opinion Sunday night on NBC’s Football Night in America: “This team was set up to play with Josh McCown. I believe that if McCown passes his concussion protocol this week that he will resume his role as starter.”

On the other hand, there is a strong case for Manziel.

One argument is the Browns need to find out definitively what they have in Manziel, but Pettine isn’t buying it.

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“We’re tasked with winning football games, and the decisions we make are what gives us the best opportunity to win this Sunday,” Pettine said. “I know that on the outside that those things get brought into it. We’ve already seen circumstances have come about for us to get an evaluation of him. So we’re not going to use a season and look at it that way, say, ‘Hey, we need to know.’ We think over the natural course of events we’ll find out.”

Pettine, though, is buying Manziel’s progress.

“Just his presence, hearing a play, being assertive in the huddle, making sure everyone was lined up, being good with his cadence, knowing, ‘I have a motion here. I have to move a guy,’ coming off on the sideline being very interactive, going through the still prints I just think quarterback play from A to Z, he’s improved in all areas in our mind,” Pettine said.

“I think that’s a function of two things his willingness, his commitment to it and I think 1/8quarterbacks coach3/8 Kevin 1/8O’Connell3/8 and 1/8offensive coordinator John DeFilippo3/8 are two of the best in the business. They do a great job with the quarterbacks and holding them accountable.”

However, areas of concern still exist. Manziel has fumbled four times in seven quarters this season and lost two. He fumbled both times the Titans sacked him, but the Browns dodged bullets because right tackle Mitchell Schwartz and rookie running back Duke Johnson recovered each one in the third quarter.

“He just needs to be much more protective of the football,” Pettine said. “That cannot become his flaw. We have to get that cleaned up.”

It doesn’t seem like Manziel’s perpetual battle with soreness in his right elbow and forearm caused by tendinitis will factor into Pettine’s decision.

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“I haven’t talked to 1/8head athletic trainer3/8 Joe 1/8Sheehan3/8 about Johnny’s soreness, so I don’t think there’s anything significant,” Pettine said.

Last year, Pettine gauged the opinions of key veterans before making in-season decisions about whether to start Manziel or Brian Hoyer, who’s now with the Houston Texans. But Pettine dismissed the notion he would survey players this time.

“I don’t see the need to talk to any veterans,” Pettine said. “I’ll rely on Kevin and Flip.”

(c)2015 Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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