Cleveland Browns keep Johnny Manziel on bench in favor of Austin Davis

A back and forth battle led to the game being tied late in the fourth when Austin Davis relieved Josh McCown, who went down with an injured shoulder, and scored on an impressive 42-yard TD pass to Travis Benjamin. After being announced as the team’s starter Manziel was caught in the act of partying during the team’s bye week via video. According to Pat McManamon of ESPN.com, the Browns confirmed that the quarterback suffered a fracture collarbone against the Baltimore Ravens and will miss the remainder of the season.

“Austin took advantage of his opportunity on Monday night”, Browns coach Mike Pettine said in a release from the team. Unless he signs another quarterback and starts him right away, Manziel and Davis are his choices. “We have two young guys that are more than talented enough to play in this league and we’re going to see what they can do”.

Pettine said McCown will not need surgery, the lone positive to another bad turn of events for a team that has lost six straight and may not have hit rock bottom. “I certainly have my own that I’ll keep private at this point”, Pettine said.

Pettine said his decision on starting Davis this week is not a reflection of his actions against Manziel. It’s hard for a team like the Browns-and rightfully so-to put complete trust in a quarterback like Manziel who hasn’t earned that trust.

And since Manziel was demoted to 3rd-string because of the incident, Austin Davis replaced McCown. But a blocked field goal and return for a touchdown with no time left on the clock gave the Ravens a 33-27 win.

And while Manziel may (or may not) still be Cleveland’s quarterback of the future, Davis is the quarterback of the moment.

McCown finishes the season 182-of-292 for 2,109 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. He was 3-5 as an emergency starter with the Rams past year. Still, Davis has a strong argument in his favor to be the man the Browns back moving forward. “We’ve had very good discussions about what’s happened, what did happen and the future”.

The Cleveland Browns once again have a decision to make at quarterback after Josh McCown was ruled out for the rest of the season.