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Ranking the Browns 28 Starting QB’s Since 1999

By Mitch Zoloty

CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 21: Fans say farewell to quarterback Tim Couch #2 of the Cleveland Browns during the Browns last home game of the season at Cleveland Browns Stadium, which happened to be against the Baltimore Ravens, on December 21, 2003 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Ravens won 35-0. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 21: Fans say farewell to quarterback Tim Couch #2 of the Cleveland Browns during the Browns last home game of the season at Cleveland Browns Stadium, which happened to be against the Baltimore Ravens, on December 21, 2003 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Ravens won 35-0. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 27: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns fights his way out of a tackle attempt from Derrick Johnson #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium during the fourth quarter of the game on December 27, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 27: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns fights his way out of a tackle attempt from Derrick Johnson #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium during the fourth quarter of the game on December 27, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

No. 16: Johnny Manziel

Oh, boy. This might be the most disappointing one on this list. Johnny Manziel, or also known as Johnny Football, was a quarterback the Browns drafted in the first round of the 2014 draft with the 22nd selection. Many fans loved this pick, while many also hated it. But that is what Johnny was, a polarizing player.

If you knew of Manziel, you either loved him, or hated him. His controversial lifestyle was something that the media ate up. After becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman, many thought he could be the man to do the impossible: end the Browns quarterback jersey meme. Sadly, he wasn’t the man for the job.

Cleveland brought Johnny in and let him sit for a bit underneath veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer. The Browns put a short leash on Hoyer, pulling him for Johnny once Hoyer’s play started to slip — even though Hoyer had led the Browns to be 7-6 record, the best the team had seen since 2007.

Manziel got his first start Week 15 against the Bengals and had one of the worst performances I have ever seen from an NFL quarterback.

Losing the game 30-0, Manziel would throw 10-of-18 for only 80 yards and a couple interceptions. There were multiple other passes that should’ve been intercepted, but were dropped. In his defense, the Bengals were 9-4-1 at the time and had a great defense.

The next week Manziel would start the game and had just 32 yards on less than 50 percent passing before going down with a Hamstring injury. Hoyer would come in to replace, going for 134 yards, but they still ended up losing the game 17-13.

Manziel’s next start would come Week 2 of 2015 against the Titans, after Josh McCown got hurt against the Jets in Week 1. Manziel would have a great performance, leading the Browns to a 28-14 win over the Titans, netting 172 yards and two touchdowns

Johnny would win one more game as a Cleveland Browns quarterback, this would be a 24-10 win against a then 4-9 49ers team in Week 14. Johnny would throw 21-of-31, 270 yards, a pick and touchdown.

His best performance as a Brown would come against the Steelers in Week 10. Despite the Browns losing 30-9, Manziel would perform pretty well in completing 33 passes for 372 yards.

Manziel’s time with the Browns would be plagued with immaturity and videos of him partying on bye weeks, so he was eventually released in the following offseason. He finished his Browns career completing 57 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and seven picks on 1,675 yards. The one stat that mattered though was a 2-6 record as a starter.

Many reporters have compared the Cleveland Browns #1 overall pick Baker Mayfield to Johnny, due to their similar media reputations, but that is just lazy reporting. Baker does not have nearly as many off the field problems. The two quarterbacks also have different skill sets, despite both being quite mobile.

Johnny Manziel is currently trying to get back into the NFL and should get another shot if he matures. However, that’s a big if. He did take a good step recently by heading north to play in the CFL.

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