The Cleveland Browns promise to be one of the most intriguing teams to follow during training camp this season. Not only is the Josh Gordon drama going to play out right in front of our eyes, most likely next week, the quarterback competition promises to be interesting.
Or does it?
Browns player: "we're all expecting Hoyer to start" week 1. Feeling in locker room is Pettine will announce WELL BEFORE 3rd preseason game
— bob holtzman (@Bob_Holtzman) July 25, 2014
The feeling outside of Cleveland has been that Johnny Manziel would eventually overtake Brian Hoyer at some point during the preseason. This isn’t based on any concrete evidence. Instead, it’s rooted in the idea that Manziel provides more dynamic play to an offense that is lacking skill-position talent with Gordon likely suspended for the season.
Logically, Hoyer should be the starter Week 1. He performed extremely well in limited action last season and has proven to be more than a capable starting quarterback in the NFL. Manziel could gain a lot from sitting for a while and learning the nuances of the NFL as a backup out of the gate.
If the player(s) are correct in the assumption that Hoyer will be starting Week 1, I wonder how long it will take before the Browns fans turn on him in lieu of Manziel. Will it take a loss that opening weekend? I wouldn’t count against it. Much like adding LeBron James to the city of Cleveland, Manziel’s existence in the previously downtrodden sports city is one of the only things Northeast Ohioans have been talking about in recent months.
Photo: Cleveland.com