It was nothing but a positive for the Browns last night that former first-rounder Johnny Manziel looked more comfortable and calm in the pocket — almost like an NFL quarterback.
But lest anyone get ahead of themselves, there’s no controversy to be found in Cleveland.
Via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Browns coach Mike Pettine said he hadn’t changed his mind about Josh McCown’s place atop the depth chart.
“I haven’t wavered on that. He’s firmly the number one,” Pettine said of McCown.
That’s the sensible answer, since McCown was 5-of-5 passing and led a touchdown drive during his short work, giving no reason to not endorse him.
But it’s also best for Manziel, to be honest, giving him time to work and develop and grow as a player.
Unrealistic expectations may have been as much of a factor in his rookie flop as his own lack of maturity, and keeping the lid on Manziel hype will serve the entire organization well.