Perhaps you watched Thursday Night Football and saw glimmers of the electrifying play that once turned Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel into a phenomenon better known as Johnny Football: the thrilling scrambles, the breakaway speed, the nervy 20-yard dart throws.
Plays like this one:
Maybe you thought, despite a lackluster fourth quarter and eventual 31-10 road loss to the unbeaten Bengals, “Hey, not bad for a 22-year-old making his fourth NFL start, who came in with just 83 pro pass attempts.”
Well, Browns coach Mike Pettine disagrees.
With his team buried at 2-7 following the Cincinnati setback, Pettine still said he’ll “hit the pause button” and wait until early next week before making a decision on whether to stick with Manziel as his starter or go back to rib-injured 36-year-old Josh McCown.
But he didn’t stop there, laying out his Manziel critiques in his Thursday post-game press conference and on a Friday call with reporters. The Browns were limited to just two first downs — and Manziel to four completions — after halftime as the Bengals made defensive adjustments.
“Inconsistent,” Pettine said of Manziel’s performance.
“Over the last 15 snaps, he did not play well.”
“Part of being successful in the NFL is being able to operate from within the pocket.”
Pettine also pointed out the times when Manziel missed his first read on passing plays, laying the groundwork for a return to McCown rather than an extended looksie at the first-round talent who might — or might not, but who knows yet? — have the tools to revive the moribund franchise.