It's not often the Cleveland Browns appear on the national radar. But things are different this year.
The Browns have received a lot of attention this off-season and much of it centers on the quarterback position. At issue is who will be the team's starter when regular-season games kick off: veteran Brian Hoyer or rookie Johnny Manziel?
First-year head coach Mike Pettine isn't offering any clues as to who has the upper hand, but he intends to end the suspense sooner rather than later.
Browns fans will know the team's primary signal-caller before the third preseason game. Pettine won't provide an exact date, but it will be before Aug. 23, when Cleveland meets the St. Louis Rams.
"It's definitely still up in the air," Pettine told the Akron Beacon Journal. "It could be sooner, and that's something we're going to discuss in that meeting. It'll be before the third preseason game. I just don't have a date. I don't know if I'll set a date and kind of paint ourselves into a date, but it will be sooner than the third preseason game."
Hoyer has NFL experience on his side. He's been in the league six years and started three games last season for the Browns.
However, Hoyer hasn't raised many eyebrows during his pro career. He's appeared in just 18 games, completed 114 of 192 pass attempts and has thrown for seven touchdowns.
It doesn't hurt that Hoyer is a native of Lakewood, Ohio, just outside Cleveland. He'll have a small but vocal following at FirstEnergy Stadium on Game Day.
But any advantage Hoyer might take into the competition ends there.
Manziel is a rookie, but a very high-profile one. The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner is a celebrity, who transcends the NFL fan base - and he has yet to throw a professional pass.
Though his popularity isn't always favorable, Manziel has cemented himself as a local superstar, some might argue a national pro sports superstar - his jersey is the NFL's top seller. Only Cavaliers forward LeBron James garners more media attention in Cleveland.
From rags, riches.... Johnny Manziel is No. 1 in officially licensed NFL merchandise: https://t.co/B4LAUQf3Ea pic.twitter.com/QtforU2Hxy
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) July 22, 2014
Based on his performances at the collegiate level, which doesn't make him a lot to succeed in the NFL, Manziel can play. He possesses a strong arm and is very elusive in the open field.
The knock on Manziel is his size. He's 6-feet tall, though many NFL Insiders claim that's a stretch. And many worry that his sometimes overly aggressive run-first style of play will lead to injuries. But those thing don't concern Pettine.
"He's been very humble," the coach said of Manziel, whose had his share of off-the-field run-ins. "He's been great in the meeting rooms. Worked hard -- worked hard in the weight room; one of the best guys in the weight room. Asked the right questions. I think he's ahead of the learning curve."
Bottom-line: If this quarterback battle is remotely close, Manziel will be Cleveland's starter when regular-season play begins.
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