Pettine leaning toward Manziel

Associated Press

BEREA

The switch at quarterback for the Browns appears inevitable this week.

Johnny Football may be about to take over Cleveland’s offense.

After Brian Hoyer played poorly again in Sunday’s one-point loss to Indianapolis, Browns coach Mike Pettine seemed to be on the verge of giving rookie Johnny Manziel his first NFL start against Cincinnati.

“I think it’s natural to lean the other way, given the results,” Pettine said Monday. “I still want to make sure we do our due diligence and talk to everybody involved.”

Pettine was unclear on if he had already decided to make the change and promote Manziel, the high-profile backup who came off the bench and replaced a struggling Hoyer in the fourth quarter nine days ago in Buffalo.

Pettine, who stuck with Hoyer last week because he had the Browns in the playoff mix, said he wants to meet with his coaching staff and general manager Ray Farmer before telling both quarterbacks and announcing who will face the Bengals.

Pettine said the offensive problems in Sunday’s game were deeper than the quarterback, but he called the Browns’ passing attack “sub-standard.” Pettine cited dropped passes, receivers running wrong routes and execution as factors but that Hoyer has to play better.

The Browns (7-6) blew a 14-point lead in the third quarter, when Hoyer and Cleveland’s offense failed to get a first down in three straight series.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has added some spice by calling Manziel “a midget.”

During a radio interview on WLW-AM in Cincinnati, Lewis referred to the 5-foot-11 Manziel as “a midget” after he was asked if the uncertainty about Cleveland’s quarterback situation impacts the Bengals’ preparation.

Lewis said, “You’ll get a little bit more movement if Manziel’s the quarterback, the thing that they did against [last week against] Buffalo. But other than that, no, that doesn’t impact you at all. You’ve got to go defend the offense, you don’t defend the player.

One of the hosts began to ask another question when Lewis interrupted and said, “particularly a midget.”

Pettine said Manziel would “absolutely” be ready if called upon to make his first start. Pettine said nothing is giving him pause to go with the first-round pick.

“Who gives us the best chance to win?” Pettine said. “That’s the decision we go with. To this point, it’s been Brian.”

Pettine was peppered with questions about Manziel’s dedication and if he worked hard enough to warrant the promotion. Since he was drafted, there have been questions about Manziel’s commitment, with much of the scrutiny stemming from off-the-field behavior. On Sunday, Manziel didn’t arrive at the stadium until shortly before 11 a.m. for a 1 p.m. kickoff. However, Pettine said Manziel was “on time” and he had no issues with Manziel attending a Cavaliers game last week when some felt he needed to have his nose in the playbook.