The Cleveland Browns have already had a quarterback carousel going at full speed through the first three games of the season. Now, rumor has it that it’s going to keep on spinning due to anonymous mutiny happening on the team. It’s been said that a few unnamed offensive starters for the Browns are not happy that Josh McCown is starting again, and they want Johnny Manziel off of the bench.
McCown suffered a concussion in the first game of the season and was replaced by Johnny Manziel in a blowout loss to the New York Jets. Manziel started Week 2 and led the Browns to a victory over the Tennessee Titans.
McCown returned from injury for week three, and he was put back in as the Browns’ starting quarterback. Cleveland ended up suffering a loss to the Oakland Raiders, and it has resulted in some calling for another switch.
A report came from TMZ Sports that said a number of Browns’ players have spoken out against McCown , and one said that “it’s f***ed up” that Manziel is still on the bench on the sideline. TMZ states they spoke with three different starters on the Browns offense who want Manziel under center instead of McCown.
They would not let their identities be known.
“It’s frustrating to him and us when you sit a player down when he is playing well. Coach has got to understand you are messing up the chemistry and timing with players and its f**ked up.”
Another player stated that Browns head coach Mike Pettine needs to have faith in Manziel and give him a chance.
“The team plays better when [Manziel] is in the game. I play better when he plays.
You can’t get better unless you play. We won when he played and coach has got to trust him like he trusts Josh.”
Josh McCown won the starting quarterback job in training camp and the preseason. It’s been said that he hasn’t lost the job due to anything he has done, and he only was out due to injury and not being able to pass the NFL’s concussion protocol.
That’s the reason that Pettine put him back in as the starting quarterback and Manziel went back to the bench. McCown came back out and started against the Raiders, and the team ended up chalking up their second loss of the season.
Ever since the anonymous report came out, Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins says that the report from TMZ is “1000 percent made up.” ESPN further reports that there “is a growing sentiment that Manziel should play,” but “nothing overwhelming to say that feeling exists.”
After the report from TMZ was questioned, executive producer Evan Rosenblum would not release a statement. Through a staffer, though, a tweet was sent out, and they did not change their stance on things.
Re: Browns… we stand by our story, period. 3 Browns starters. Real quotes. Nothing fabricated.
— evan rosenblum (@EvanTMZ) September 30, 2015
This report is a huge issue right now, even if the Cleveland Browns don’t want it to be. On Wednesday, head coach Mike Pettine was asked about it again, and he didn’t have a whole lot to say about it and merely stated, “I’ve said all I’m going to say on that.”
Browns offensive guard John Greco did say that Petting spoke to the team about the report and told them “I can’t imagine anyone saying that.” Opinions are going to be made, but it’s hard to think that three players would tell the media that they want a quarterback change.
The Cleveland Browns do have a quarterback controversy on their hands no matter what reports are out there. Josh McCown will be starting for them again in Week 4, but if he loses one or two more, Johnny Manziel may end up back under center.
[Image via Getty Images — Leon Halip, Jason Miller, Justin K. Aller]