The plan was to write a new Hot 16 article on the three-quarter mark of the NFL season last week. But things came up, the Charles Barkley article took precedence and the NFL piece got bumped back.
However one major portion of the Hot 16 was completed— the Cleveland Browns quarterback controversy involving rookie Johnny Manziel and incumbent Brian Hoyer. The vast majority of what your are about to read was written last week, BEFORE the Browns 25-24 heartbreaking loss the Indianapolis Colts. The funny thing is, not much needed to be updated:
The Johnny Manziel/Brian Hoyer debate is pretty fascinating. Prior to Sunday’s tilt versus Indianapolis, people seemed to be firmly entrenched in one camp or the other. Manziel finally got his chance last Sunday in Buffalo and he did not disappoint as he led the Browns to a touchdown in his first drive as an NFL quarterback. This occurrence is particularly interesting if only because of the following staggering statistic: coming into Week 14, Brian Hoyer had led the Browns to the same number of touchdown drives in his last 47 drives…FORTY-SEVEN!!!
Universally respected football minds were shaken by this fact.
Again, Hoyer’s been the steadying force for a rising team. But 1 TD pass in his last 47 drives. It’s a production business.
— Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) December 2, 2014
This made Browns quarterback situation tenuous to say the least. While Hoyer has captained this ship to now a 7-6 record, and there’s probably a significant faction within the locker room that (at least prior to today) preferred the veteran who has been in the trenches with them, the move to Manziel appears to be more inevitable with each passing day. For all the leadership, professionalism and general competence Hoyer has brought to the position — on a team that sorely needed it — his overall performance has been abysmal. Hoyer notched just one touchdown and six interceptions between Week 9 and Week 13. Coming into Sunday, Hoyer’s passer rating was 27th in the league and his completion percentage was 33rd (there’s only 32 teams in the league). None of these numbers were enhanced Sunday as Hoyer’s anemic and uninspiring afternoon played a significant role in Cleveland squandering a 14-point second half lead. He would finish 14-31 for 140 yards, zero TDs and two interceptions, with six three & outs. It was one month ago when Deion Sanders told the Cleveland Browns to “pay this man” after Hoyer’s Browns smoked the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. That night, few bothered to point out that Hoyer’s signature performance of the season came in a game that the Browns ran the ball 52 times. Cleveland also had a huge blowout win over the Pittsburgh Steelers this year— Hoyer was 8-17 for 217 yards and one TD. Winning despite playing well quickly became Brian Hoyer’s calling card (and dates back to last season too). Just because the Browns are unusually above .500 in December, doesn’t mean the QB play is good enough to reach the playoffs and beyond. And just because the quarterback play for the Browns is was more competent than it’s been, doesn’t mean it’s good. Have we finally reached the point where it becomes worth seeing what Johnny Football can actually do while playing football? No way Manziel could’ve been any wore that Hoyer has been of late (at least that’s what Johnny seems to think).
Sidebar: This is the second of two wide open receivers Hoyer overthrew that would’ve gone to the crib.
Which brings us to head coach “Stone Cold” Mike Pettine. Pettine claims he did not consider a QB change during today’s game, which seems unthinkable considering he made the switch just seven days ago. Now it may be too late. Despite two defensive touchdowns, the Browns dropped a game to a team whose defense gave up six TD passes to the Steelers in late October. By slipping to 7-6 and joining a slew of AFC teams with the same record, the Browns playoff hopes are now murky at best. The idea that Pettine could trot Hoyer out again next week under the guise of “giving us the best opportunity to win” seems ludicrous, but playing Hoyer over Manziel today was barely defensible. If the Browns are unable to recover to make the playoffs, the blood is on coach’s hands.
This morning, news broke that Brian Hoyer would likely not be playing for his hometown team in 2015. With the wave of pressure to play Manziel constantly mounting, it’s understandable why Hoyer would make this decision. But after playing a significant role what could be a deathblow to the Browns season, that decision may have already been made for him.
It just would’ve been nice if Pettine made it last Sunday.