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Cleveland Browns: 4 best backup quarterbacks of all-time

By Randy Gurzi

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Brian Sipe #17 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the football against the New York Jets during a game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on December 12, 1981 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Jets defeated the Browns 14-13. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Brian Sipe #17 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the football against the New York Jets during a game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on December 12, 1981 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Jets defeated the Browns 14-13. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 21: Brian Hoyer #6 of the Cleveland Browns scrambles against the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers won 17-13. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Best Cleveland Browns backup No. 2: Brian Hoyer

This guy probably deserves praise simply because of what he was going up against.

Brian Hoyer, a Cleveland native, came to the team in 2013 and found himself behind Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell. By Week 3, however, he was pressed into action due to injuries and didn’t disappoint.

Hoyer had 321 yards and three touchdowns in that game and led them to their first win of the season. He then continued to start and was 3-0 for the Browns and it looked as though he was going to be the starter from then on.

Unfortunately, head coach Rob Chudzinski never really named him the starter – perhaps it was a way of keeping Hoyer focused. He never ended up getting a chance to give that title to Hoyer either as he tore his ACL in his third start, ending a season that showed so much potential.

Cleveland fans were ready to see what Hoyer could do once healthy but the front office had other plans. 2014 ended up being the year they drafted Johnny Manziel and Hoyer was again fighting for a spot.

He beat out Manziel and was 7-6 as the starter but was still forced out for Johnny Football. During his two short seasons in Cleveland, Hoyer was 10-6 and not only the best backup they had in years, but he was arguably one of the best starting quarterbacks they had since returning to the NFL. Too bad they didn;t see that until after he was gone.

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