With Johnny Manziel's upside uncertain, Browns will explore Marcus Mariota and every QB option:

[RS12]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- With coach Mike Pettine admitting this week that the Browns will have doubts about Johnny Manziel even if he hits "it out of the park'' in the final two games and "a ton of doubts'' if he doesn't play well, the Browns will explore all of their options at quarterback, including trading up into the top five to draft Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer has repeatedly said that he'll always explore every option at all positions -- and Mariota is one glaring and tempting possibility for the Browns this offseason. The Browns have scouted him this season and will continue to do so.

It would be an incredible longshot, but not impossible.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2014/12/with_johnny_manziels_upside_un.html

 

[RS12]

My take from this is one way or another JFB might not be long for Cleveland. We all know who has a man crush on JFB. So the question is what does Jerry give up for him that doesnt make you want to pull your hair out. A 4th?

 

[jrumann59]

My take from this is one way or another JFB might not be long for Cleveland. We all know who has a man crush on JFB. So the question is what does Jerry give up for him that doesnt make you want to pull your hair out. A 4th?

I am sure they will ask for a late 1st or 2nd round pick. Even though I do not like JFB as cowboy, he is still relatively unknown and he does not have too many bad habits yet, he in essence is still a rookie. Some team desperate for a possible qb will give them something close to their price.

 

[joseephuss]

My take from this is one way or another JFB might not be long for Cleveland. We all know who has a man crush on JFB. So the question is what does Jerry give up for him that doesnt make you want to pull your hair out. A 4th?

That man crush probably has waned a bit.

 

[Rogah]

I am sure they will ask for a late 1st or 2nd round pick. Even though I do not like JFB as cowboy, he is still relatively unknown and he does not have too many bad habits yet, he in essence is still a rookie. Some team desperate for a possible qb will give them something close to their price.

I don't see anyone giving up that much for him. He has been atrocious, even by rookie QB standards.

 

[joseephuss]

When Troy Aikman looked bad his first few games his rookie season you could say "Well, at least he is 6'-4" tall, weighs 220 lbs and has a strong arm". You can't say any of that about Manziel.

 

[Stryker44]

The Browns have no loyalty. First Weeden, now Manziel.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Martin > Manziel

Told anyone who would listen I wanted no part of him. Not saying last Sunday defines his career. But he has a long way to go.

 

[joseephuss]

The Browns have no loyalty. First Weeden, now Manziel.

Why should they be loyal to mediocrity? The Cardinals are going to start Logan Thomas this Sunday. Why aren't they loyal to Lindley?

 

[Hardline]

I put the odds of Johnny College being a Cowboy at 0%.

 

[jrumann59]

The Browns have no loyalty. First Weeden, now Manziel.

They need to figure out what kind of QB and offense they want and draft accordingly until they find something flip flopping on offensive schemes is a sure way to make sure your QB search is always fluid.

 

[Doomsday101]

Marcus Mariota: Please no. Cleveland is where QB go to rot. lol

 

[NickZepp]

When Troy Aikman looked bad his first few games his rookie season you could say "Well, at least he is 6'-4" tall, weighs 220 lbs and has a strong arm". You can't say any of that about Manziel.

Before starting Manziel the Browns had a shot at the playoffs. Not sure why they decided to start Manziel in this spot. Hoyer isn't anything special but he's ran the offense effectively all year. They should have kept with him this year and then waited till next year to give Manziel a shot. Now their season fell of the rails because they decided to go with a rookie QB during a critical part of the year.

Watching Manziel in college he was never going to be a great pro. A lot of the throws he made in college aren't that open in the NFL and there aren't a lot of WRs as good as Evans is.

 

[darthseinfeld]

He pretty much proved that he is not an NFL talent

 

[NickZepp]

He pretty much proved that he is not an NFL talent

I probably agree but you don't put a rookie QB in against a division leader when you still have a shot at the playoffs when he has barely played all year.

 

[joseephuss]

Before starting Manziel the Browns had a shot at the playoffs. Not sure why they decided to start Manziel in this spot. Hoyer isn't anything special but he's ran the offense effectively all year. They should have kept with him this year and then waited till next year to give Manziel a shot. Now their season fell of the rails because they decided to go with a rookie QB during a critical part of the year.

Watching Manziel in college he was never going to be a great pro. A lot of the throws he made in college aren't that open in the NFL and there aren't a lot of WRs as good as Evans is.

I disagree that Hoyer ran the offense effectively all year. He started out well, but he really took a turn for the worse mid-way through the season. In the 5 games prior to getting benched Hoyer completed 51.4% of his passes, threw 1 TD pass and 8 INTs and had a 55.99 passer rating. That is putrid and was the reason the Browns went 2-3 in those games. It would have been 1-4 if Mike Smith of the Falcons doesn't gift the Browns a win. Hoyer had 3 INTs that game.

 

[Sasquatch]

I disagree that Hoyer ran the offense effectively all year. He started out well, but he really took a turn for the worse mid-way through the season. In the 5 games prior to getting benched Hoyer completed 51.4% of his passes, threw 1 TD pass and 8 INTs and had a 55.99 passer rating. That is putrid and was the reason the Browns went 2-3 in those games. It would have been 1-4 if Mike Smith of the Falcons doesn't gift the Browns a win. Hoyer had 3 INTs that game.

It is now apparent why the Browns' coaching staff refused to switch QBs for so long. But as you said, Hoyer forced their hand by never snapping out of his woeful stretch of inept play.

 

[CowboyChris]

All I can say is thank god we didnt take Manziel, He could've set this franchise back 5 years

 

[DFWJC]

I've heard two draft analysts in back-to-back days recently say that between Mariota and Winston, Winston is the FAR better NFL talent. I'm sure that'll be debated for the next several months.

 

[Tabascocat]

I've heard two draft analysts in back-to-back days recently say that between Mariota and Winston, Winston is the FAR better NFL talent. I'm sure that'll be debated for the next several months.

I don't doubt that either. The problem is his maturity and intelligence IMO, not his physical skill.