NFL Roster Update: Johnny Manziel Back as Cleveland Browns' Starting Quarterback
Cleveland Browns' Johnny Manziel is reportedly out of the team's doghouse and is scheduled to start versus the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, as first reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN. The 23-year-old quarterback was demoted to the bench for his off-the-field antics last Nov. 24.
In a report by Yahoo! Sports, Manziel will be starting the final four games for the Browns, but it will be like an audition for his future. Cleveland have the worst record in the NFL with two wins in 12 games played and are in position to get the No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft.
The Browns can draft a quarterback with Memphis' Paxton Lynch, California's Jared Goff, Ohio State's Cardale Jones and Michigan State's Connor Cook as the top prospects entering the NFL in 2016. Manziel lost his starting job after lying about a video of him partying during the team's bye week surfaced, showing him with a bottle of champagne.
He was just named starting quarterback for the rest of season, a week before the video was leaked, and then lied directly to Brown's coach Mike Pettine. Manziel passed a career-high of 327 yards in a loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 22, when the decision to name him a starter was made during the 2-8 Browns' bye week.
"When you have a great opportunity in front of you, it is important that you demonstrate that you can handle the responsibility that comes with it. I can't emphasize enough the importance of the trust and the accountability piece. This is where we had an obvious shortcoming," Pettine told ESPN after demoting Manziel.
Austin Davis started in place of the injured Josh McCown, who is out for the season, against the Cincinnati Bengals last week. Davis completed 25 of 37 passes but lost wide receivers Travis Benjamin and Marlon Moore to injuries.
He was harassed by Bengals defensive linemen throughout the game that led to a 37-3 blowout loss. It is Cleveland's most lopsided loss since Dec. 24, 2005, when the Pittsburgh Pirates shut them out 41-0.
If "Johnny Football" fails to impress the Brown's coaching staff and front office in the final four games, he could possibly be traded in the offseason. The Dallas Cowboys head the list of teams that may acquire Manziel, per SB Nation.
The San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles are also potential landing spots for the former Heisman Trophy winner. The 49ers are expected to part ways with Colin Kaepernick while the Eagles won't likely re-sign Sam Bradford.
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