Being a Northeast Ohio kid, playing quarterback for the Browns was a dream job for Brian Hoyer.
Right until it turned into a nightmare.
Hoyer told Jim Corbett of USA Today he was at peace with the Browns’ decision to sign Josh McCown, meaning he’ll head out into the free agent market looking for another chance at a starting job.
“It’s good for both sides to get a fresh start and go our separate ways,” Hoyer said. “Being from here, I’ll always root for the Browns. I know I’m going to be continuing my football career somewhere.”
He just didn’t imagine it would be anywhere else, after the way he started the season.
Hoyer had the Browns off to a 7-4 start before things unraveled, and was ultimately replaced by the ill-prepared Johnny Manziel.
But Hoyer holds no grudges there, and said he checked with Manziel when he checked himself into rehab.
“I texted Johnny when he went into rehab, haven’t heard back. But I’m sure when you go into rehab they don’t allow you to use your phone,” Hoyer said. “It takes a big person to check yourself into rehab. There was no reason for me to have any animosity towards Johnny. He didn’t choose to be drafted by Cleveland.
“We got along great. I hope the best for him. He definitely has the talent to have a great career. They don’t just hand out the Heisman Trophy to anybody.’'
Of course, that won’t be Hoyer’s problem soon, as he’ll head into the market as one of the top quarterbacks avialable.
Houston makes plenty of sense, where he could work with old coach Bill O’Brien, but there are multiple places where he’d make sense, from the Jets to the Titans to the Rams.
“I look forward to helping whatever team get better and go to the playoffs,” Hoyer said. “If you’re in the right situation, believe in yourself, nothing will hold you back.”
When he says it like that, it’s almost like Cleveland wasn’t the right situation for anybody.