Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine's reluctance to make quarterback Johnny Manziel the permanent starter may lead to his demise as the head coach in Cleveland, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
Manziel is expected to start Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Pettine said he would not name the starter to keep a competitive advantage. The Browns head coach reportedly doesn't think Manziel has earned the starting job, and that is reportedly a sentiment shared with people in the Browns' facility, according to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport.
Manziel is 1-1 in his two starts this season, but the Browns are only 2-7 for the year. Manziel had a strong first half against the Cincinnati Bengals last week, but he struggled to produce anything in the second half. The Browns' 2014 first round pick has thrown for 561 yards this season with four touchdowns to one interception.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslem was a big proponent in the team drafting Manziel and reportedly would like to get a look at what Manziel can do down the stretch of this season, according to La Canfora. Pettine isn't the only one on the hot seat, as general manager Ray Farmer could go after this season, as the Browns have showed no signs of improvement.
The Browns are basically ruled out for the playoff, and many in the organization feel that it's time to see what Manziel can do before the offseason. The Browns need to figure out if Manziel can be the guy, and sitting him on the bench will only leave more questions about their quarterback position this offseason. Pettine has shown no commitment to Manziel as the Browns quarterback, and that could lead to his downfall in Cleveland.
