After a barnstorming tour of duty away from the field, and a lifestyle that at times rivalled Caligula, Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is trying to put himself on the right road.
A stint in rehab and some solemn promises have been forthcoming, but as his head coach Mike Pettine said, actions speak louder than words.
To right his brief, yet already failing, NFL career, Manziel has been taking private practices with former head coach and current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, according to Charlie Campbell of Walter Football.
"Gruden took a liking to Manziel before the 2014 NFL Draft and was effusive in his praise of Manziel," Campbell said. "Thus, Gruden is also motivated to help Manziel to get straightened out."
Last year, Gruden also hosted pro quarterback Josh Freeman to do some work in the film room and improve his throwing fundamentals.
Gruden spent 20 years in the coaching ranks, including two stints with the Raiders, culminating in a Super Bowl championship with the Buccaneers in 2005. Today, he's known as the color commentator on ESPN's "Monday Night Football" broadcasts and for hosting "Gruden's Quarterback Camp" for the network.
Manziel is looking at a likely No. 2 position with Cleveland this season after the team signed veteran Josh McCown following Manziel's disastrous rookie campaign. He passed for 80 yards and two interceptions against the Bengals in a shutout defeat, and completed three passes against the Panthers before leaving with a hamstring injury as the Browns' otherwise promising season collapsed down the stretch.
Cleveland opens their preseason when they host the Redskins on Aug. 13.
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BEREA, Ohio - Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas has spent his entire nine year professional career in Cleveland, mostly on the receiving end of some miserable campaigns with the AFC North's perennial basement-dwellers.
He's seen a lot of quarterbacks behind him, too, and the one he played for most recently has caught his jaundiced eye.
Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, still in voluntary rehabilitation from his off field lifestyle, has been in Thomas' sights lately, and he doesn't like what he sees.
"I think he's going to have to prove to the team that football is important and being 'the man,' being the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, is important, it is his goal, his single goal in his life," Thomas told ESPNCleveland.com.
Manziel admitted himself into rehab on Jan. 28th, and has been cut off from all social media, and by extension the whole world, an isolation so prodigious that ESPN's Chris Mortensen said that the Browns had "90 percent moved on" from him in the meantime.
A conclusion that seemed all the more likely when the Browns signed quarterback Josh McCown to a three-year deal on Feb. 27th after trading away hometown product Brian Hoyer to Houston.
Thomas said any trust in Manziel from his teammates was a scarce commodity early on.
"You know, I think he lost probably a lot of trust among the guys on the team last year by the way he handled himself once he became the starter," Thomas said. "And I think he had a lot of time to reflect, I'm guessing, after the season was over by the comments he made in the media and by his actions, checking himself into rehab. I think those were positive steps."
Though the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Manziel was still enrolled in treatment, he was seen recently on a golf course in Shreveport, La., with his father. ESPN reports he is allowed to take occasional trips with his family under the program.
Thomas said he has little faith in guys saying they'll reform themselves and wants to see action.
“Yeah. Everyone wants to talk the good talk in the media, and that includes [embattled wide receiver] Josh Gordon, but it’s your actions that really are telling to your teammates about if you really mean what you say,” Thomas said.
"Obviously, there's some uncertainty with Johnny right now and that's why we brought in Josh [McCown]," Thomas said. "He's a guy that if he's asked to carry the flag this year, he's going to do a great job. There's a chance we draft somebody or there's a chance Johnny comes back and he's a new person and he's rededicated to football, and he turns into the great quarterback that we expected when we drafted him in the first round."
BEREA, Ohio - Rookie quarterback Connor Shaw will start for the Cleveland Browns when they meet the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Shaw, an undrafted free agent from South Carolina, was signed to a multi-year deal this week from the Browns' practice squad, for which he played over 16 weeks.
"It was a good week of practice and I had a lot of support from coaches and teammates and I'm confident going into this game with the game plan. We'll see what happens Sunday," Shaw told the Akron Beacon-Journal.
Starter Brian Hoyer did not practice this week after leaving with a shoulder and bicep injury sustained during a sack last Sunday at Carolina. Johnny Manziel was lost for the season in that contest after leaving with a hamstring injury head coach Mike Pettine described as "pretty serious".
"This is a dream come true if I'm able to start and able to play," Shaw told the Beacon-Journal. "I'm excited about it."
Cleveland (7-8) enjoyed a resurgence this season under Brian Hoyer, eventually playing to a 6-3 record and playoff contention from the competitive AFC North before suffering a four-game losing streak.
Shaw last saw the field professionally in the team's Aug 18th preseason matchup at the Washington Redskins, the game in which Manziel saw his first action as a pro.
He will be the 22nd starting quarterback for the Browns since their re-formation in 1999.
BEREA, Ohio - Johnny Manziel is out and Brian Hoyer is day-to-day for the Cleveland Browns when they host the Baltimore Ravens in their season finale on Sunday.
Manziel sustained a hamstring injury in the second quarter of the Browns' 17-13 loss at Carolina yesterday.
"The hamstring was pretty significant," head coach Mike Pettine said afterwards, also calling it a "several-week injury."
Hoyer relieved Manziel in that game, going 7-for-13 on 134 yards, tossing an 81 yard touchdown to Jordan Cameron that gave the Browns a brief 13-10 lead.
Though his right shoulder was injured on a 7 yard sack and left the field slowly, complaining afterwards of breathing trouble.
Manziel went 3-of-8 for 32 yards in that contest, his second start for the Browns, his first ending in a 30-0 shutout at the hands of Cincinnati.
South Carolina rookie Connor Shaw has been called up from the team's practice squad and will take reps with the first team in practice. Should Hoyer not be ready Sunday, Shaw will get the start.
Cleveland (7-8) lost their last four games and five of their last six after entering that stretch with a 6-3 mark and their sights on a postseason berth from the competitive AFC North.
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.
BEREA, Ohio - Browns head coach Mike Pettine has announced Johnny Manziel will start at quarterback for the team when they host Cincinnati Sunday.
It will be the first-career start for Manziel, selected by the Browns in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
The team informed Manziel and former starter Brian Hoyer of their decision early Tuesday morning.
Pettine indicated in his Monday meeting with reporters that a change at the position was likely following Hoyer's performance in Cleveland's last-second loss to the Colts Sunday.
Hoyer, a Cleveland native, went 14-of-31 for 140 yards and two interceptions in that contest but was not replaced.
"When you go back and watch the tape, there are clearly some throws that he missed," Pettine said Monday of Hoyer's play against the Colts, "but I think it was also exaggerated by how poorly we were in the pass game around him. That's difficult. The quarterback is only as good as his supporting cast, so when the guys around him play well, Brian will play well."
Hoyer was 2-0 against the Bengals in his career, including a 24-3 decision in a Thursday night meeting Nov. 6th at Paul Brown Stadium.
He started the Browns' first 13 games, though has thrown only one touchdown to 7 interceptions in the team's last four outings.
Cleveland only scored that single touchdown in the team's last 29 offensive possessions with Hoyer under center as the Browns until recently have been in playoff contention in the AFC North.
Manziel entered the fourth quarter of Cleveland's 26-10 defeat at Buffalo two Sundays ago in relief of Hoyer after the starter threw two interceptions. He led two drives, the first resulting in his first professional touchdown.
BEREA, Ohio - Brian Hoyer will start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns Sunday when they host the Indianpolis Colts, the team confirmed Wednesday.
"After thorough evaluation and talking to the staff, we feel Brian gives us the best opportunity to win on Sunday," head coach Mike Pettine said. "This is a football decision and those are always going to be based on what we think is best for our team."
The Cleveland native has thrown 11 touchdowns this season and holds a 10-5 record with the team in his career.
Though he threw five interceptions and no touchdowns in his last two outings with the team.
Including two at Buffalo last week, resulting in his being benched in the fourth quarter of that game, a 26-10 defeat.
Johnny Manziel entered that contest and led the Browns on their only touchdown-scoring drive on the day.
Browns coaches, however, felt Hoyer gave the team their best chance, who enjoys a cordial relationship with his teammates in the locker room.
"Brian has led our team to a 7-5 record," Pettine added. "I'm confident that we can get the entire offense playing at the level needed to accimplish the goals we set at the beginning of the season. Those goals are still very much attainable."
Cleveland is seeking their first playoff berth since after their 2002 season.
December 2, 2014
Tuesday's football and hockey news off the wire:
East Rutherford, N.J. - Monday night found the Miami Dolphins win only their first contest out of 49 previous attempts when leading in the fourth quarter.
Miami (7-5) defeated the Jets 16-13 despite being outgained 277-74 on the ground by a New York side that dominated the line of scrimmage through three quarters.
Trailing 13-6 in the fourth quarter, however, Ryan Tannehill led a drive 39 yards after a Jets punt was pushed back on penalties.
Lamar Miller rushed for a 4 yard touchdown, the only time the Dolphins struck paydirt.
Caleb Sturgis booted the go-ahead field goal from 26 yards with 1:57 left, knocking the Jets to a 2-10 record and a very fragile future for Rex Ryan.
"I feel sick," Ryan said afterwards, adding after a long pause, "What a joke."
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Cleveland, Ohio - Browns head coach Mike Pettine is expected to make a decision by Wednesday as to who will start under center when Cleveland hosts the Colts Sunday.
"The door is definitely open for a change at the quarterback position," Pettine told ESPN. "We'll evaluate both quarterbacks and have a decision soon."
Starter Brian Hoyer, a Cleveland native, was benched in the fourth quarter of the Browns' 26-10 defeat at Buffalo last Sunday. In relief, Johnny Manziel led the team on a scoring drive including his 10 yard rushing touchdown, the rookie's first-career score in the professional ranks.
Hoyer threw 5 interceptions in his last two outings against no touchdown passes for Cleveland (7-5), including two picks against the Bills.
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Denver, Colo. - Max Pacioretty notched the game-winning goal for the Canadiens as they down the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 Monday night.
The game was tied 3-3 into the third period, but Pacioretty would not be stopped on a breakaway down the left side, firing from the circle past rookie Calvin Pickard.
Pacioretty leads the Canadiens with 20 points (12 goals, 8 assists).
Andrei Markov lit the lamp on a power-play for Montreal (17-7-2) in the middle frame on a cross-ice pass that left Pickard open to his right side. He also assisted P.K. Subban for the defenseman's 6th goal this season.
Berea, Ohio - The Cleveland Browns are enjoying a resurgence this year, above .500, competing in the tough AFC North and looking for a playoff berth, the first since after their 2002 campaign.
But that success has come alongside their second quarterback controversy this season.
Starter Brian Hoyer remained defiant in the team's press conference following the team's 26-10 loss at Buffalo Sunday that he felt the Browns were his team.
That, despite throwing two interceptions, his fifth pick in his last two outings, during which he also failed to throw a touchdown.
"Yeah, no doubt. This is my team, I've always felt that way. We'll see what happens," Hoyer said Sunday.
The North Olmstead, Ohio, native began the season under center for Cleveland (7-5) after a much-publicized quarterback try-out between he and 2014 first-round pick Johnny Manziel.
Manziel entered the Buffalo game after Hoyer was benched near the start of the final quarter Sunday, when the Browns were trailing 20-3.
He led the team on an 80 yard drive, capped off by his 10 yard rushing touchdown, his first score in the professional ranks.
His second drive, however, proved less inspirational.
Manziel fumbled the 3rd-and-6 snap, picked it up and nearly lost it again for a would-be Bills touchdown, though his pass attempt was ruled incomplete.
Browns coach Mike Pettine said the quarterback position is now open again, and a decision will likely be made Wednesday as to who will start when they host the Colts four days later.
"The door is definitely open for a change at the quarterback position," Pettine told ESPN. "It's not like we're just going to go back to Brian. This has been a cumulative thing where discussions about where a change at quarterback have been more and more lively. We'll evaluate both quarterbacks and have a decision soon."
Should Manziel start Sunday, it would be his first complete game start in the NFL.
"If that is the case, and my name is called, then I'll definitely be ready," Manziel said of the possible change. He went 5-of-8 for 63 yards passing Sunday.
After a barnstorming tour of duty away from the field, and a lifestyle that at times rivalled Caligula, Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is trying to put himself on the right road. 