CLEVELAND - In the days prior to the Browns' matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, commentators and fans spoke languidly of the special threat Johnny Manziel would bring to opposing defenses.
He would run read options, scamper around would-be tackles, take off unseen down the sidelines, scramble from the pocket and make plays where none existed.
The same way he did in college.
But Cleveland's 21st starting quarterback since 1999 would be stifled, stymied, and stuffed through four quarters of a woeful 30-0 shutout in his first-career pro outing.
"Just to show him this ain't college," Bengals tackle Domata Peko said afterwards. "This is the NFL. You have grown men that are going to be chasing after you, not college kids. We've got grown men who have kids that are out here trying to feed their families."
The standout rookie would not come close to the lofty expectations projected on him by so many since his being drafted in April to the delight of proud and long-suffering Browns fans.
"Nobody wants to win more than I do," Manziel said defiantly, "and its tough to come out there and lay an egg like that. I'm not using the rookie excuse. I needed to play better."
Cincinnati came into the contest on the tail-end of a 24-3 laugher to the Browns Nov. 6 at Paul Brown Stadium, and into the stadium on their team bus on Sunday subjected to hundreds of taunting Browns fans, flashing Manziel's "money signs."
In the mood for revenge, the Bengals repaid their hosts with three sacks on their star, and three money signs of their own.
"Every time we hit him, every time we got him on his back," Bengals tackle Domata Peko said gleefully. "So it was a lot of money signs thrown out today."
When he was on his feet, Manziel threw two interceptions and no touchdowns, completing 10-of-18 pass attempts for 80 yards.
He was picked by Adam Jones on a roll-out play to the right that was bound for the end zone, a throw that went very high and very wide.
"It was tough," Manziel said after. "When you get beat, you get beat and you take it like a man. I felt like it was a big fail on my part."
Sunday found the fourth straight game the Browns (7-7) finished with at least two interceptions and no touchdowns, calling 38 offensive plays, the lowest mark in football this season.
The shutout was the team's first since 2009 as they take two steps back from their postseason push in the AFC North, with wins from Pittsburgh and Baltimore also coming Sunday.
Despite posting a 1.0 quarterback rating, Manziel was still confident.
"I never felt overwhelmed out there," he said. "Things happen fast and you see certain things that all flash around really fast, but when it came down to it, we just didn't make enough plays."
In the end the Bengals outgained the Browns 347-107 and outrushed them 244-53 as Jeremy Hill carried for 148 yards and two touchdowns. And 194 of Cincinnati's yards on the ground came between the tackles.
Browns coach Mike Pettine was unimpressed with his quarterback and his team.
"Didn't play well, looked like a rookie, played like a rookie. We didn't play well around him, but he made some obvious mistakes that typically a veteran quarterback won't make."
No word has been given who will start for the Browns when they visit Carolina on Sunday, though it is unlikely the team will go back to Brian Hoyer, who in his previous 29 drives produced one touchdown and eight interceptions.
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