Any time there’s competition — so long as it’s legitimate — there’s going to be tension.
But Browns coach Mike Pettine insisted the starting quarterback job would be up for a fair fight.
“I don’t know if they’re going to be sending each other Christmas cards anytime soon,’' Pettine said with a smile, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “But they know they’re both in it together and they’re going to compete and I think they both feel comfortable that as a staff we’re going to put the best quarterback [out there] that puts us in position to win games.’'
Manziel will obviously draw more attention, but the Browns have insisted throughout that Hoyer is viewed as the starter. At least for now.
That’s probably temporary, as one of them is Brian Hoyer and the other one is Johnny F. Football, but it’s good to know they’re taking the competition seriously.
If nothing else, it keeps expectations in check, and that might be as important for Browns fans as it is for Manziel himself.