Pettine Stays Quiet On The Browns Starting QB for Next Game at Pittsburgh

Browns coach Mike Pettine didn’t give many complements to starting quarterback Johnny Manziel last night despite ‘Johnny Football’ having the Browns within four points at halftime.

The coach today continued his rather lackluster attitude about Manziel, and declined to name him, Josh McCown, or even third string QB Austin Davis as the starter against the Steelers on November 15th in Heinz Field.

Pettine said that Manziel’s play was “inconsistent,” and that “over the last 15 snaps, he did not play well.”

It’s an interesting statement from a coach who is defined as a ‘defensive coach’ out there walking up and down the sidelines with the the 32nd ranked defense allowing 401 yards per game.

The coach said that Manizel at times Thursday missed his first read, which goes back to his comment to NFL Network at halftime (when the Browns trailed by just 4) that Johnny needed to “calm down.”

The coach did clarify those comments on Friday during a conference call with the media.

“Part of being successful in the NFL is being able to operate from within the pocket, and then you get the best of both worlds,” Pettine said.

For now it appears that if McCown is healthy, he’ll be back under center in 9 days when the Browns visit the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

Going back to McCown will not likely be a popular decision with the fans based on the fact that in a lost season at 2-7 you might as well give Manziel more of a chance to continue to be the starter, but Pettine still doesn’t see it that way.

Unless there’s a serious change of heart, it doesn’t sound like it’s going to chance anytime soon.