The Cleveland Browns will have some tough decisions to make very soon. Quarterback Brian Hoyer is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. While Hoyer hasn't set the league on fire, he has been playing well this season and the Browns are 6-3 and in sole position of first place in the AFC North. Should they make the playoffs it would be virtually impossible to move on from Hoyer next year.
However, Hoyer may not want to stick around with first-round pick Johnny Manziel breathing down his neck. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report believes that Hoyer will be reluctant to re-sign with Manziel, the 22nd overall pick in this year's NFL draft, still on the roster.
"This is a really precarious situation," Cole said in October. "He's [Hoyer] going to want to go to a place that A) pays him and B) makes it clear that he is the guy. As long as Manziel is there, there's also going to be concern from Hoyer's side."
Hoyer was asked on Oct. 13 if he would be willing to re-sign longer term with the Browns if Manziel is still with the team.
"I don't think I need to say anything more than I'm from Cleveland. This is where I want to be, but I'm also a competitor," Hoyer said. "So I want to be somewhere where I'm playing."
Hoyer was then asked again if he would leave if Manziel was present. "I'm not going to answer that question," Hoyer said in response.
Cleveland general manager Ray Farmer recently said that he expects Manziel to start eventually. However, should Hoyer make it known that he will not re-sign with the team with Manziel still there, and should the Browns make the playoffs, it's very possible they will be forced to choose between the two signal callers.
"One way or another, if Hoyer is going to stay, Manziel will have to eventually go," Cole said. "When that is, is an interesting question. I don't think Hoyer is going to take a long-term deal with the presence of Manziel. I don't think it's going to play out that way according to all the people I've talked to who are involved in this."
Glenn Moore of Sports Illustrated's Fansided listed the Dallas Cowboys as a possible landing spot for Manziel should he become available.
Hoyer is completing 58.5 percent of his passes and has thrown for 2,212 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions this season. Manziel has only attempted one pass in two game appearances.
