The Bengals might be a bit size-ist when it comes to the debut of Johnny Manziel as a starter Sunday, but his own teammates know he can create big problems.
In practice, at least.
Browns safety Donte Whitner told Albert Breer of the NFL Network that Manziel was a “nightmare” to practice against because of his ability to improvise.
“You see him being Johnny Football,” Whitner said. “You don’t see him trying to duplicate anybody’s quarterbacking style, just sitting in the pocket.
“If something’s not right, you see him using his instincts and his intangibles, breaking the pocket. That’s where I can see growth.”
The Browns are doing everything they can to make Manziel comfortable in the starting role.
The fact they’re trading on the element of surprise — and that Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan had success with a similarly skilled rookie in Washington when he coached Robert Griffin III — gives the Browns an element of hope this weekend.
“I think he’s got enough,” wide receiver Josh Gordon said. “He’s got what we need right now to move forward and pull off these last three wins.
“He’s willing to do anything, extend a play, and make something out of nothing. That mindset isn’t in everybody. A lot of guys will quit, take a sack or throw the ball away. That’s not what he does.”
And that’s why we’ll all be tuning in on Sunday.