Johnny Manziel remains grounded after Browns pick Austin Davis to start

McCown started Monday’s game because Manziel, who had been named the team’s starter for the rest of the season, was sent back to the bench and relegated to No. 3 quarterback against the Ravens.

Austin Davis gets the nod in place of Josh McCown, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after breaking his collarbone Monday night against Baltimore.

Davis came into the game after Josh McCown was hurt in the fourth quarter and played 13 total snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

“Austin took advantage of his opportunity on Monday night”, Coach Mike Pettine said in an article posted to the team’s web site.

On one dramatic, unforgettable play, the two Ravens achieved their goals. However, he also threw a pair of interceptions – one for a Browns’ 52-yard touchdown and another in the final minute of play that could have potentially led to Cleveland’s game-winning field goal. Davis was undrafted, and as an unknown last year started 8 games in St. Louis, averaging 7.0 yards per attempt (the Rams would kill for his numbers this year).

With Manziel on the sideline and both teams struggling this season, the game was a tough sell to a national TV audience and thousands of Browns fans stayed home as well. Would Pettine go with Manziel or Davis? I was saying, ‘If we get a block and it bounces my way, I’m going to take it to the end zone.’ Luckily it did.

“I can not say enough positive things about Josh McCown and what he’s done for this football team and what he means to this football team”.

Hill had been beaten by Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin for a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter and was willing to do anything he could to make up for his mistake.

“This is where we had an obvious shortcoming”, Pettine said of Manziel at the time. “You pretty much have to drag him off the field”. McCown didn’t disappoint, completing 63.7 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns, four interceptions and a rating of 93.3.

Davis played for USM from 2008-11, leading the Golden Eagles to the Conference USA title in his last season.

Pettine noted he’s not anxious about his players having to adjust to two quarterbacks in the home stretch. “He is as prepared as any quarterback that I have been around”, Pettine said. This time, wide receiver Travis Benjamin ran a straight route and got behind cornerback Shareece Wright and safeties Will Hill and Kendrick Lewis for a 42-yard touchdown from third-string quarterback Austin Davis.