It had been reported recently that whomever the Cleveland Browns hired as their next offensive coordinator would have final say on the future of quarterback Johnny Manziel in Cleveland. Now that the Browns have reportedly hired former Oakland Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo to fill the position, everyone is left wondering what that means for Manziel.
No one has made any comments on the record, but it's possible that DeFilippo's success in Oakland this past season could make him more amenable to working with Manziel. No, the Raiders weren't exactly an offensive juggernaut in 2014. In fact, they finished last in total yards per game and second-to-last in points per game. But rookie quarterback Derek Carr still had an impressive season despite a serious lack of playmakers around him.
Carr finished the regular season with 3,270 yards with 21 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions. He showed enough to convince some NFL observers that he can develop into Oakland's franchise quarterback. Manziel had a better pedigree coming into the NFL than Carr and was a higher draft pick. Although rumors are circulating that the Browns are interested in trading up for Marcus Mariota, it would be surprising to see them give up on Johnny Football after just seven quarters of play.
Perhaps DeFilippo's positive experience with Carr was enough to convince him that he could win with Manziel. Either way, we're sure to find out sooner rather than later where he stands on the polarizing young quarterback.
