Manziel proves crucial as Browns soundly defeat 49ers in team effort

Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns marked the first time San Francisco 49ers kicker Phil Dawson walked into FirstEnergy Stadium as a visitor, and there were plenty of emotions to go along with the hugs and handshakes from his former coworkers and friends he has not seen since leaving the team three years ago.

“I overreacted a little bit”, said Manziel, for having sent the tablet into concussion protocol.

The home crowd chanted Johnny, Johnny after the Browns final touchdown drive with 8:48 remaining.

Manziel passed for 270 yards, delivering a quality performance he and the Browns (3-10) desperately needed. With the Browns heading toward another off-season house-cleaning, Manziel could end up as trade bait, but more performances like he had in Week 14 would make it more hard for the Cleveland GM, whomever it is, to consider that possibility.

“The running game opens everything up, and everyone as a whole played their (butts) off”, said Crowell, who logged a career-high 20 carries.

Tomsula bemoaned his offensive line’s breakdowns in technique, which led to nine sacks of quarterback Blaine Gabbert, and his defense’s failure to wrap up tackles, which led to 481 yards of total offense for the usually meek Browns.

Veteran linebacker NaVorro Bowman said it was “embarrassing the way that we lost”.

Brooks’ thoughts were: “Maybe we took them for granted….”

Clausen is the sixth quarterback since 1950 to start at quarterback for two different teams against the same opponent. “When I’m an old man and my memory’s starting to fade, I just hope the Good Lord allows me to always hold onto this one because this is one of the rare ones”. “I know what it means to me”.

“It was just getting a rhythm”.

That happened after he threw an interception late in the first quarter.

With the Browns near midfield, Manziel was forced from the pocket and scrambled near the Browns sideline.

The Manziel trade rumors have been flying for some time now to the point where credible sources like ESPN’s Adam Schefter are reporting that teams like the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco could be ready to make a move for the quarterback in the coming offseason.

Manziel is undoubtedly a polarizing figure, and his off-field antics haven’t necessarily helped his reputation.

One of the more frustrating aspects of being a fan of a bad team, is the roller coaster feeling they give you. That’s when he had his temper tantrum. “I was more upset knowing that we are going to be watching that on film [Monday]”. Let that sink in and then let me explain.

Pettine wasn’t upset with the QB’s heated response.

Pettine said he made good adjustments and had command of the huddle. Pettine shrugged it all off. “When it is toward himself over frustration of doing something boneheaded, I have no problem with it”, Pettine said.

The 49ers did nothing well. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 194 yards with one touchdown pass of six yards to Jerome Simpson. San Francisco was hurt by penalties, but the bigger issues were with blocking, tackling and overall execution. The Browns were playing with the lead, and that was the difference.

Sure, Manziel slamming a Microsoft Surface on his head after an ugly interception was both amusing and noteworthy, but the positive things Manziel did in getting the Browns their third win of the season far outweighed the bad.