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Cleveland Browns: Ranking every starting QB since 1999

By Jonathan Goehring

Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 29, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) calls a play in the huddle during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Browns beat the Bengals 17-6. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) calls a play in the huddle during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Browns beat the Bengals 17-6. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Brian Hoyer 2013-2014

One of Cleveland’s most loved yet most despised quarterbacks of all time is Brian Hoyer. Signed to a two-year deal before the 2013 season, Hoyer’s opportunity to start came early, as starter Brandon Weeden went down in Week 2. Starting the first game of his career in Week 3, Hoyer led the Browns to a 31-27 upset victory in Minnesota. He also led the game winning drive in the victory, capping it with a touchdown pass to Jordan Cameron.

Hoyer followed the performance up in Week 4 with another strong outing, defeating the Bengals and setting the Browns’ record at 2-2. Unfortunately though, Hoyer was injured the following Thursday night in a victory over the Bills.

The Browns were 3-2, but without the player that helped them get there the most. Cleveland was later informed that the ACL injury would cause the quarterback to miss the entire rest of 2013, a season that would not unfold well despite its promising start. Weeden and Campbell started the remainder of the games, and Hoyer was mostly forgotten about.

After Weeden and Campbell were released, Hoyer became the starting quarterback to begin 2014. In his contract year, the undrafted quarterback led Cleveland to a 7-4 start including several very impressive performances. Highlights of one of the better starts in Browns history included the largest road comeback in NFL history, along with upsets over division rivals Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

Even during this exciting season though, controversy swirled around who the starting quarterback really should be, with rookie Johnny Manziel on the bench. When Manziel finally got the opportunity over a slumping Hoyer, the Browns were walloped 30-0 in his debut. At this point, Cleveland had squandered a promising season led by Hoyer, and the fan favorite moved on after 2014 as his contract expired.

Even in the midst of a bizarre 2014 season, Hoyer impressed fans with his fortitude. He also put up reasonably solid stats during his time in Cleveland, one of very few quarterbacks since 1999 to finish with a winning record.

Next: No. 3: Kelly Holcomb

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