How many games will Johnny Manziel start in his career?

[RedTeamGo!]

How many games will Johnny Manziel start in his NFL career?

Please explain the reasoning behind your post.

Now that I live in Northeast Ohio, it has been hilarious listening to the locals go on and on about Manziel.

I am curious what everyone thinks about this kid.

I voted 10-19. I think the Browns will give him 2015 to prove he can play in the NFL but he will not be on a very long leash. I think he will start around 15 games in his career. Injuries will also be a concern for him, as he has the build of my cousin, Kelly.

[Tom Servo]

Voted 3-9. I'm a sympathetic supporter as my dad is an Aggie, but I think the leash is getting shorter and shorter as 2014 ends.

[traderumor]

The Browns are not doing smart things, so all things being equal as of today, they'll give him 20 or more. I'm only partially being facetious.

[RedTeamGo!]

The Browns are not doing smart things, so all things being equal as of today, they'll give him 20 or more. I'm only partially being facetious.

That is possible, as the Browns will always Brown. But the issue is the fanbase is already turning on Johnny.

[traderumor]

That is possible, as the Browns will always Brown. But the issue is the fanbase is already turning on Johnny.

Yep, the cycle Bengals fans know all too well of the mismanaged franchise from early 90s until Marvin.

[GAC]

The Browns are not doing smart things, so all things being equal as of today, they'll give him 20 or more. I'm only partially being facetious.

I disagree with you buddy. Irregardless of what one thinks of Manziel, to say the Browns aren't doing smart things (plural) isn't recognizing the talent they have accumulated, as well as the strides they have made this year.

This is a team that went into this season with a new head coach, new coaching staff, trying to implement new schemes on both sides of the ball, while also starting youth (rookies) in some key positions. That's not an easy thing to do, and takes time. Last year we had no running game and very little weapons offensively. I love our two rookie RBs, as well as our receiving corp. Our defensive secondary (pass) is one of the best in the NFL (7th).

Coming out of week #12 we had a record of 7-4 and were very much in the hunt for the division/play-offs. Since then the wheels have fallen off. But why? First off - one can't blame that slide on Manziel because has only started the last two games. Things started going awry due to key injuries on the offensive line. Look at how bad Hoyer struggled in the latter part of the season. It wasn't totally his fault. The guy was running for his life behind a line that has been turned into swiss cheese. Cleveland's offensive line is ranked 24th (run blocking) and 26th (pass protection) .

I watched that game last week vs Carolina, and can't tell you how many times I watch their defenders greet Manziel, or our RBs, behind the line when the ball got to them. It was ridiculous. Watching the play of this offensive line over the last few weeks reminds me of the days of poor Tim Couch, and how he got the crap beat out of him (LOL).

And the other issue, which has been on-gong all year .... our run defense is horrendous, and teams have been able to flaunt that.

But my point is simply this..... this team, yes, has some issues that need to be addressed in the off-season. But they've made some positive strides this year. I have to be honest... myself, and a majority of Brown fans I know, didn't really expect them to be quite as successful as they were. We just wanted to see signs of positive direction - and I think we've seen that.

As for Manziel? I find that a majority of those that hate/dislike Manziel - and I've always been on the fence - is due to two things..... 1) his mouth/cockiness, and all the hype. So he deserves a lot of that... but I also think it motivates some to root that he fails. 2) they've carried this preconceived notion, since he came out of college, that he was never going to make it in the NFL, and for various reasons (some valid, some not IMO) they continue to hold to that position, will never give him a chance, and those last two games reinforce that in their minds.

But is that being fair and objective? Manziel may fall flat on his face. I don't know. And right now, neither does the Brown's coaching staff. It's good to hear this from Pettine .... http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...ing_off_1.html

and Karlos Dansby .... http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...hnny_manz.html

Sorry, but I find it silliness to make any predictions about Manziel at this stage of the game, and under the circumstances.

[traderumor]

I disagree with you buddy. Irregardless of what one thinks of Manziel, to say the Browns aren't doing smart things (plural) isn't recognizing the talent they have accumulated, as well as the strides they have made this year.

This is a team that went into this season with a new head coach, new coaching staff, trying to implement new schemes on both sides of the ball, while also starting youth (rookies) in some key positions. That's not an easy thing to do, and takes time. Last year we had no running game and very little weapons offensively. I love our two rookie RBs, as well as our receiving corp. Our defensive secondary (pass) is one of the best in the NFL (7th).

Coming out of week #12 we had a record of 7-4 and were very much in the hunt for the division/play-offs. Since then the wheels have fallen off. But why? First off - one can't blame that slide on Manziel because has only started the last two games. Things started going awry due to key injuries on the offensive line. Look at how bad Hoyer struggled in the latter part of the season. It wasn't totally his fault. The guy was running for his life behind a line that has been turned into swiss cheese. Cleveland's offensive line is ranked 24th (run blocking) and 26th (pass protection) .

I watched that game last week vs Carolina, and can't tell you how many times I watch their defenders greet Manziel, or our RBs, behind the line when the ball got to them. It was ridiculous. Watching the play of this offensive line over the last few weeks reminds me of the days of poor Tim Couch, and how he got the crap beat out of him (LOL).

And the other issue, which has been on-gong all year .... our run defense is horrendous, and teams have been able to flaunt that.

But my point is simply this..... this team, yes, has some issues that need to be addressed in the off-season. But they've made some positive strides this year. I have to be honest... myself, and a majority of Brown fans I know, didn't really expect them to be quite as successful as they were. We just wanted to see signs of positive direction - and I think we've seen that.

As for Manziel? I find that a majority of those that hate/dislike Manziel - and I've always been on the fence - is due to two things..... 1) his mouth/cockiness, and all the hype. So he deserves a lot of that... but I also think it motivates some to root that he fails. 2) they've carried this preconceived notion, since he came out of college, that he was never going to make it in the NFL, and for various reasons (some valid, some not IMO) they continue to hold to that position, will never give him a chance, and those last two games reinforce that in their minds.

But is that being fair and objective? Manziel may fall flat on his face. I don't know. And right now, neither does the Brown's coaching staff. It's good to hear this from Pettine .... http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...ing_off_1.html

and Karlos Dansby .... http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...hnny_manz.html

Sorry, but I find it silliness to make any predictions about Manziel at this stage of the game, and under the circumstances.

The fizzle at the end of the year brings into question any real progress. Keep in mind they played the last place schedule against the weakest division in the history of the NFL. Other than the road win in Cincy, what did they do other than play a soft schedule?

The Manziel pick to me is more the statement of the current state of affairs being like the past state of affairs. That pick was devastating and set the franchise back, or kept them down, however you want to view it.

[bucksfan2]

The fizzle at the end of the year brings into question any real progress. Keep in mind they played the last place schedule against the weakest division in the history of the NFL. Other than the road win in Cincy, what did they do other than play a soft schedule?

The Manziel pick to me is more the statement of the current state of affairs being like the past state of affairs. That pick was devastating and set the franchise back, or kept them down, however you want to view it.

The worst thing that happened to the Browns was the good start this season. The good start led them to riding Hoyer longer than they should have. The league knows what Brian Hoyer is, a backup QB, not a starting QB. He had some success but that success was more because of a good defense and a QB not making enough mistakes to cost the team games. I don't know Johnny Manziel is and I don't think anyone can say with certainty what he will be going forward. Cleveland needs time to decide and see what kind of QB he can become. He was awful in the Bengals game, just awful, and then got hurt in the next game. He made some terrible throws that led to Int's against he Bengals, but he also did some things that made perk up. He made some plays with his feet but went for naught because of a pass just a little bit too high, or being stopped a half yard too short.

Manziel needs time to develop and play. He needs time to suck, to learn what you can and can't do. Even Peyton Manning's TD/INT ratio was 26/28 in his first season with a 56% completion rating. Had he been given a year to start, to learn, to suck, but to improve the Browns would know what they have next year. Now they are going to have a mid range pick, a massive question mark at QB, and a team that really isn't any closer to competing than they were at the start of this year.

[GAC]

The fizzle at the end of the year brings into question any real progress. Keep in mind they played the last place schedule against the weakest division in the history of the NFL. Other than the road win in Cincy, what did they do other than play a soft schedule?

Did the Bengals play a soft schedule? Because other then two games (14 weeks out of 16), the Bengals played the same schedule (common opponents) buddy. So the Bengals also played the last place schedule against the weakest division (NFC North) in the history of the NFL did they not? The Bengals went 3-0-1, and the Browns went 3-1. Tampa Bay is bad, but they gave both of us one heck of a game.... and they beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh. Go figure.

Other then the Cincy road win? They beat the heck out of the Steelers in week#6.

Again - the Browns have issues (which I've already mentioned). They lost to a couple teams they shouldn't have.... but they also let a few games, against good opponents, slip away in the last minute when, IMO, they should have won (Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Indy). But alas, they didn't.

But anyone who has watched the Browns this year - and I've watched every game - can see the direction (strides) they have made, and it's been positive.

Yes, we have fizzled over the last month. But, IMO, you're not being very objective (fair) as to what was the main reason (culprit) behind that slide. A lot of the Bengal's woes during the season was attributed to poor play by their defense. And why? Because of a lot of injuries. That's not making excuses, but a fact. Every analyst (commentator) that I read/listened to on the Brown's performance over the last month come to the same conclusion - their offensive line is banged up pretty bad. Other than Joe Thomas, we've got 3rd and 4th stringers playing in key spots (especially the right side). Some of these guys wouldn't be starting if not for injuries, which brings up the issue of depth which the Browns have to address.

Are our RBs terrible because they haven't been able to run the ball in the latter parts of this season? Not if you look at their performance before some of those injuries.

Hoyer also had success, and his struggles didn't really begin until guys (including Mack) started going down. And I said it then - while I had no huge problem with them starting Manziel - what did they have to lose - I did not think Manziel, a rookie with really no NFL experience, would have any more success or turn it around playing behind this terrible offensive line?

Manziel may turn out to be a bust. But I'm certainly not going to make such a determination based on such a small window and the current circumstances that are hindering any type of valued judgment at this stage.

South Carolina QB Conner Shaw starts tomorrow. They signed veteran QB Thigpen. And that's probably because they know Shaw is gonna take his lumps, suffer some punishment, so they better have some sort of back-up (LOL).

[bucksfan2]

He has already started 2 so my guess is 10-19. I think the Cleveland draft will be very telling, they have the ammo to go after Winston/Mariotta, will they? If they don't Manziel will be the starter heading into the season next year, and probably the starter for the entire season. Truth be told I think Cleveland spun their wheels this season, they do not know what they have with Manziel and aren't any closer to a playoff slot next season. They had to find out what they had in Manziel and they didn't do that this season. If he is not the answer then they have wasted another 1st round pick and potentially two more seasons.

[Sea Ray]

He has already started 2 so my guess is 10-19. I think the Cleveland draft will be very telling, they have the ammo to go after Winston/Mariotta, will they? If they don't Manziel will be the starter heading into the season next year, and probably the starter for the entire season. Truth be told I think Cleveland spun their wheels this season, they do not know what they have with Manziel and aren't any closer to a playoff slot next season. They had to find out what they had in Manziel and they didn't do that this season. If he is not the answer then they have wasted another 1st round pick and potentially two more seasons.

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. I think Cleveland would have to put an RG3 kind of deal to move up. Certainly the Bucs and Jets will want a QB real bad

[RedTeamGo!]

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. I think Cleveland would have to put an RG3 kind of deal to move up. Certainly the Bucs and Jets will want a QB real bad

The Browns have two first round picks this year, that could be enough to entice the bucs or jets.

[bucksfan2]

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. I think Cleveland would have to put an RG3 kind of deal to move up. Certainly the Bucs and Jets will want a QB real bad

Cleveland's drafts have been surprising over the past number of years to say the least. Their MO has been to constantly trade down and to stockpile picks all the while lacking impact players. Last season they had the 4th pick in the draft, traded down a couple of slots and drafted Gilbert, someone many thought to be the best corner in the draft. What has Gilbert done this season? Sandwiched in between those two picks were Watkins, Mike Evans, and Mack, all players who would make Cleveland much more dangerous.

Cleveland would be better served in taking the BPA instead of continuing to trade and compile picks. I think they have a team that could be good, a legit playoff contender, but they continue to get in their own way. If you throw in a young promising QB I think they could make the playoffs next year. If they continue to compile picks, I don't think they will make that jump. For as much criticism as the Redskins get for the RG3 trade, they made the playoffs in his rookie season before he blew out his knee and St Louis has been a losing club including all those picks.

[Assembly Hall]

I voted 20+. I think the Browns will go in a different direction next year. But "Johnny Football" will get his chances.

[Kingspoint]

GAC, I really like Cleveland's Head Coach, btw. I think if he can be left alone by his bosses to do his job, the Browns can excel.