Puskas: Here’s Johnny, and it’s about time

So where do you stand on the Cleveland Browns quarterback controversy?

There is no middle ground. It’s either Team Brian or Team Johnny.

Brian Hoyer’s supporters have been staunch, even in the face of his recent decline.

One touchdown drive in the Browns’ last 29 offensive possessions? No matter. Brian’s from Cleveland, you know.

One touchdown pass and eight interceptions in the last four games? But he’s 10-6 as the Browns’ QB. No other Cleveland QB has sniffed .500 since 1999.

Hoyer overthrew Josh Gordon by 15 feet? Gordon clearly ran the wrong route. Go St. Ignatius!

And then there are the Johnny Football freaks, who would gladly jump atop an inflatable swan and float down a flaming Cuyahoga River with Manziel. Pass that bottle!

Critics say Manziel is too short (a shade under 6-feet) and his run-at-the-first-sign-of-trouble instincts won’t fly in the NFL the way they did at Texas A&M. They say he’s too immature to lead the Browns.

Team Johnny’s response?

Drew Brees is a short QB, too. It’s worked out OK for him.

And how do you know Manziel’s game won’t translate until he gets on the field?

I was torn between the Browns’ two quarterbacks and the arguments in support of each of them. Both side made valid points.

Hoyer playing well last season before his knee injury and leading the Browns to a 6-3 start this season made for a great story — the classic, “Hometown Boy Makes Good” story.

But for whatever reason, Hoyer’s performance leveled off dramatically over the last month. Maybe the loss of center Alex Mack and the stagnation of the Browns’ running game is to blame.

Gordon’s return from a drug-related suspension was supposed to give Hoyer a much-needed extra weapon. But after catching eight passes for 120 yards in his first game back, the mercurial wide receiver and the journeyman quarterback have struggled to connect.

Given all that, I’ve found myself — much like Browns coach Mike Pettine — leaning toward Manziel. Team Johnny, sign me up.

At some point — and I’ve thought this for at least a couple of weeks as Hoyer’s play deteriorated — the Browns need to find out what they have in Manziel. Is he destined to be a sideshow until next year’s draft or can the talent he clearly has translate from Saturdays to Sundays?

Of course, my opinion means nothing when it comes to the Browns’ quarterback controversy. Pettine and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan are the guys’ whose opinions matter. And perhaps Browns owner Jimmy Haslam had a say in it.

One way or another, the Browns came around to Team Johnny’s way of thinking, so we’re about to find out — against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday — what Manziel can do.

I’m not sure what to expect, aside from the fact that it won’t be boring.

Write Sports Editor Ed Puskas at epuskas@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @EdPuskas_Vindy.