Browns demote Manziel after partying video

One week after naming Johnny Manziel the starting quarterback for the remainder of the 2015 regular season, Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine demoted the second-year signal-caller to third string for this week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens because of a pattern of partying and making the headlines in tabloids for his exploits.

Coach Mike Pettine announced his decision to make the quarterback change in a statement late November 24 and addressed it in a news conference the next day, but that was before news broke that Manziel lied to his coaches about the timing of the partying video.

Pettine had talked to him about using the down time wisely and Manziel said: ‘I don’t think they’re going to have to worry about me this week’.

As Pettine said in his presser, the club seems to be united in the decision to bench Manziel.

But DeFilippo said Manziel has time to dig himself out of the hole he’s in and play again before the season ends.

Following Manziel’s demotion, Josh McCown will start for the Browns in their Monday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens with Austin Davis as his backup.

“Everyone in this organization wants what is best for Johnny”, said Pettine, lying through his teeth. It is. I am not going to sit here and say it is not. “This is a decision that I know, for him in particular, stings in the short term but feel it is an absolutely necessary to maximize his chance for future success”. Manziel went on with Dempsey to discover nine fabulously productive oil fields and named each one after one of his children. Gruden will call Monday night’s Ravens-Browns game for ESPN. McCown has two capable targets in receiver Travis Benjamin and tight end Gary Barnidge, but Cleveland’s ground game is 31st and the defense ranks 30th.EXTRA POINTS1.

Pettine said he’s on the same page with owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Ray Farmer regarding Manziel. I definitely could empathize with him going through this situation. The Chiefs current roster has a lot of speed on the offensive side of the ball, and I could see Manziel being a better fit than Smith. And what I mean by that is he told the Browns that video was old. Earlier in the season he was investigated by the National Football League after his girlfriend said he hit her. And he admitted he had been drinking. “It’s not just pure football here, it’s truly player development on and off the field”.

Quick hitters: Pettine said that left guard Joel Bitonio (ankle) returned for some light individual work on Friday.

“Its important that if you have rules and guidelines and people tell you something that you have follow-through, ” Thomas said.

Of course, there’s no way of knowing for sure that Gordon was talking about Manziel but….we’re pretty sure he was talking about Manziel.