Report: Johnny Manziel won't work with starters to open camp
Johnny Manziel will not be working with the first team offense to start training camp, reports Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com.
Veteran Brian Hoyer is still slated as the team's top quarterback.
The Browns traded up to acquire the No. 22 pick in May's draft to select Manziel, a former Heisman Trophy winner out of Texas A&M. Hoyer is a five-year pro who started three games for Cleveland last year, completing 59.4 percent of his passes for 615 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. He tore his ACL in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills.
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ESPNCleveland.com interviewed new Browns coach Mike Pettine, who explained why he's starting camp with Hoyer working with the first team:
"Hoyer’s the one. He’ll be with the ones in the beginning. We’re still going to evaluate Johnny just as we’ll evaluate any other player, with his repetitions, so it shouldn’t be misconstrued if he’s not taking early reps with the ones. I think at this point, right now, it’s more Johnny v. the playbook than it is v. Brian... [Manziel] will get reps with the ones at some point. But early on … we only talked about how we would handle things very early in camp and then make that assessment after the first off day and then have a plan for the scrimmage [on Aug. 2]. We’ll see where he is coming out of the summer."
Last season the Browns went 4-12 and finished last in the AFC North. Cleveland also selected Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert in the first round of May's draft.
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- Alex Hampl
