Manziel video has Browns on alert

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Johnny Manziel’s latest video appearance has the Browns concerned.

The second-year quarterback is expected to have a conversation with Cleveland coach Mike Pettine after another video surfaced over the weekend on social media of him partying.

In the short clip, Manziel, wearing a “Merry Manziel” shirt, is seen singing along as “March Madness” by Future plays in the background. A framed jersey of Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, one of Manziel’s Texas A&M teammates, hangs on the wall behind him.

Last month, Manziel was demoted from starter to third-string by Pettine after he denied that a video of him partying in Austin, Texas, was taken during Cleveland’s bye week. Manziel had promised Pettine and other coaches he wouldn’t be a distraction while the team was off.

On Monday, Pettine said he had not yet seen the new video of Manziel.

It’s one of several issues looming as the team prepares for Sunday’s finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The ominous signs point to change. Pettine is ignoring them.

With the losses piling up and his future in Cleveland very much in doubt, Pettine said Monday that he has not yet spoken to owner Jimmy Haslam about whether he will return for a third season.

Amid constant conjecture about what Haslam may or may not do with his floundering franchise, Pettine said his sole focus is on this Sunday’s season finale.

“I have a job to do, and the job is to prepare this team as well as I can to play the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Pettine said. “I don’t get caught up in that.”

Pettine’s record fell to 3-17 in his past 20 games on Sunday as the Browns (3-12) battled but fell short in their comeback against the Kansas City Chiefs (10-5), who may have gotten lucky that Manziel ran out of time.

Down 17-3 at halftime, Manziel brought back the Browns, who outplayed the Chiefs in the second half and nearly pulled off the upset.

While it may have been another tough loss, Pettine found several positives: His team looked prepared, played hard and may have given Haslam more to consider — assuming, that is, he hasn’t already decided an overhaul is in order.

By no means was Pettine satisfied with losing, but he took solace in his team’s effort.

“We’re not into moral victories,” he said. “It’s pass-fail and we came up short again. Just effort and playing hard isn’t just enough. We’ve got to play better. We’ve got to play smarter for a longer period of time.”

Pettine speaks with Haslam regularly, but they have not discussed any plans beyond this week.