The Cleveland Browns have benched second-year quarterback Johnny Manziel after TMZ posted video of Manziel partying in Austin, Texas on the team's bye week.
In a statement posted to the team website, head coach Mike Pettine said the Browns will once again go with veteran Josh McCown as the starter, with Austin Davis as his backup. Manziel will be the team's third quarterback.
“Josh McCown will be the starting quarterback on Monday night against the Ravens. I informed the quarterbacks of that decision after I sat down and spoke with Johnny, Flip (offensive coordinator John DeFilippo) and (quarterbacks coach) Kevin (O’Connell) after practice today. Johnny will be the third quarterback. I’ve spoken to Ray (Farmer) and Jimmy (Haslam) to inform them of my decision, and they are in full support.
“Everyone in this organization wants what is best for Johnny just like we do for every player in our locker room. I’m especially disappointed in his actions and behavior because he has been working very hard. The improvements from last year to this year have been tremendous but he still has to consistently demonstrate that he has gained a good understanding of what it takes to be successful at the quarterback position on this level. It goes well beyond the field. We are going to continue to support him in every way possible, but at this point, we’ve decided it’s best to go with Josh as the starter going forward.”
TMZ posted video on Monday showing Manziel at a club in Austin, with TMZ claiming the quarterback went on a two-night "bender." The video showed Manziel clutching a bottle of champage and lining up for a photo.
Manziel said videos "can be old," but did not deny that he was partying in Austin. The video can't be too old, as the song "March Madness" by Future is heard in the clip; that song was released in mid-March, and Manziel was in rehab for 10 weeks beginning in early February.
It was just a week ago that Pettine announced that Manziel would be the team's starter for the remainder of the season. With the team again on the outside unlikely to make the playoffs, the move would give the Browns time to evaluate whether Manziel has what it takes to be the quarterback of their future.
Earlier Tuesday, via tweets from Cleveland Plain-Dealer beat writer Mary Kay Cabot, Pettine said he had seen the video and spoken to owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Ray Farmer.
"It's disappointing. Very," Pettine said, adding that his frustration comes from Manziel's repeated pattern of incidents.
Just last month, Manziel was involved in a domestic incident with his girlfriend, and the police report of the incident has Manziel admitting to drinking and an officer saying he detected alcohol but he was not given a blood-alcohol test.
McCown, who has been cleared to play after a rib injury, told reporters he'd be ready to go if called upon, and said he hopes Manziel is making "healthy choices."
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