Johnny Manziel is making believers.
Following his first preseason game — in which he completed 7 of 11 passes for 63 yards, rushing for 27 yards — the rookie quarterback seems to be gaining ground on Brian Hoyer for the Browns’ starting position.
Still undecided, coach Mike Pettine said he wants to declare a starter before the team’s third preseason game, while his players haven’t come to a consensus on whom they prefer either.
“It’s been fierce,” Browns safety Donte Whitner told theMMQB.com. “Two guys fighting for their lives. It’s close. I’d say [the locker room] is split about 50-50. We know they both can play.”
Though Hoyer has more experience, Whitner said Manziel has more than just hype, noting the first-round pick and Heisman Trophy winner’s solid training camp.
“He’s earning his keep so far,” Whitner said of Manziel, who will split reps with Hoyer in the Browns’ second preseason game against the Redskins on Monday night.
“He’s not asking for any privileges. He’s just a rookie, and he’s acting like one. When we have the rookie show, he’ll sing just like the rest of them. As far as football goes, I’m seeing him put the ball on the money like a veteran. Sometimes the receiver drops it. Sometimes the receiver isn’t even looking for the ball and it bounces off him. He’s got the confidence a quarterback has to have.”
Though the team is split, fans clearly have their favorite.
In Saturday night’s preseason game against the Lions, Manziel helped set the highest rating and viewership numbers for a preseason game in the 11-year history of the NFL Network, drawing a 1.81 US household rating, watched by an average of 2.82 million people. The previous record was held by a game between the Saints and Steelers in 2007, which drew 2.07 million viewers.