Cleveland Browns Roster & Rumors: Brian Hoyer, Not Johnny Manziel, To Start Against Indianapolis Colts
Brian Hoyer will start for the Cleveland Browns again in their Week 14 match against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Coach Mike Pettine announced on Wednesday.
Hoyer was benched in the fourth period of their 26-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, and rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel had an impressive performance, which created speculation that Pettine will give the former Texas A&M start the first start of his NFL career.
But after discussing their quarterback situation with his coaching staff, Pettine said that they felt Hoyer will still put them in a better position to win against the Colts on Sunday.
"After thorough evaluation and talking to the staff, we feel Brian gives us the best opportunity to win on Sunday," Pettine told reporters, ESPN reported. "This is a football decision, and those are always going to be based on what we think is best for our team."
Pettine pointed out that Hoyer led the team to a 7-5 start, and it is enough for them to give the 29-year-old another chance despite having just one touchdown against six interceptions in their last three games.
"Brian has led our team to a 7-5 record," Pettine said. "I'm confident that we can get the entire offense playing at the level needed to accomplish the goals we set at the beginning of the season. Those goals are still very much attainable."
But if the Browns lose on Sunday, sources said that Pettine will make changes and start Manziel in their final three games of the season.
Manziel, who completed 5-of-8 passes for 63 yards and had one diving touchdown against the Bills, accepted Pettine's decision, but he said that he will take it as a challenge and work harder in practice to prove that he deserves to be named as Cleveland's starting quarterback.
"I want to show even through practice, even after this, that my mood hasn't changed," Manziel said. "I'm not taking this lightly. All this is going to do is motivate me to come in here to work every day, come to practice, continue to try and elevate my game to where next time in a situation like this maybe there's no doubt."
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