Score the second day of Browns camp in favor of Brian Hoyer.
Absorbing all of Cleveland's first-team reps, the veteran quarterback outplayed rookie Johnny Manziel as the team continued to install Kyle Shanahan's offense.
Hoyer "once again looked very sharp," per NFL Media's Aditi Kinkhabwala, who noted that coach Mike Pettine and his staff plan to fully assess the quarterback position during Wednesday's respite for the players.
In his better moments, Hoyer beat cover men Joe Haden and Tashaun Gipson for a 40-yard completion to Anthony Armstrong, before hitting the wideout again on a quick dart over the middle.
Manziel waltzed onto the field in glowing neon yellow cleats, per Kinkhabwala, before changing into Browns-centric orange footwear for practice. He drew heavy applause with a 25-yard dart to Miles Austin, but Hoyer looked "faster with his release" and made "better reads" than Manziel.
Kinkhabwala told NFL Network that Shanahan is expected to sprinkle in plays over the coming weeks that are custom-fit to Johnny Football's unusual mobility and skill set. It's another reminder that we're still in the infancy stages of this summer's sexiest quarterback duel.
So let's stay in the moment, avoid sky-is-falling hyperbole and let this one play out -- shall we?
Here what else we learned on Sunday:
- The spotlight burns less brightly on Teddy Bridgewater, but the Vikings rookie passer is already "pretty much splitting reps" with Matt Cassel, per Fox Sports' Jay Glazer.
- Jerry Jones admitted on Inside Training Camp Live that he was very close to draftingJohnny Manziel over Zack Martin in May. He says it's a decision he'll mull probably for the "rest of his career."
- Time for the Jets to consider a vow of silence. After Geno Smith told reporters that he plans to finish the year as a top-five quarterback, Dee Millinercalled himself the best cornerback in the NFL. The second-year defender was subsequently flamed by Clyde Gates for a 15-yard touchdown in 7-on-7s, per ESPN's Rich Cimini. Sigh.
- Panthers pass rusher Greg Hardy faced reporters before Sunday's session in Carolina but wouldn't answer specific questions about his recent conviction on two domestic violence charges except to say, per The Associated Press, "I hate that I have distracted my team."
- Patrick Peterson's short-lived stint as a wide receiver is kaput. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians confirmed Sunday that the All-Pro cornerback won't take offensive snaps or return punts this season with Arizona enjoying more speed at wideout than one summer ago, per Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic.
- It's unclear what the Browns have in injury-prone veteran wideout Miles Austin, but the early whispers are encouraging:
From the trainers' room ...
- Another day, another blow to the Niners' backfield. We found out Saturday that Kendall Huntertore his ACL. Today, LaMichael James was carted off with a dislocated elbow. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports the running back could miss one month.
- Rob Gronkowski's comeback rages on. Initially limited to individual drills at Patriots camp, the star tight end spent part of Sunday's practice in half-to-3/4 speed 11-on-11 drills, according to NFL Media's Albert Breer. "Everything that you see here indicates that Gronk is going to be a go for Week 1," Breer said, "even if they are taking it a little easy on him right now."
- Rex Ryan confirmed Sunday that rookie safety Calvin Pryor is mired in the league's concussion protocol after sustaining a head injury during Saturday's session. NFL Media's Kimberly Jones also reported that rookie tight end Jace Amaroleft the field Sunday with a "nagging" right knee injury. He's expected to make a quick recovery.
- Minnesota's Cordarrelle Patterson made strides Sunday with a "little bit of work" during a walkthrough, but the second-year Vikings wideout confirmed that he's battling pain after injuring his foot in a training session prior to camp.
- Broncos coach John Fox told reporters that DeMarcus Ware sat out half of Sunday's practice with what the team is calling a lower leg bruise. Rest easy, Broncos faithful: Fox assured scribes it "doesn't appear to be serious," per ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold.
- First-year running back Dri Archer and his 4.26 speed continue to freak people out at Steelers camp. Sunday was less promising for runner LeVeon Bell, who left the team's session with a tightened hamstring, per coach Mike Tomlin.
Riding the hype train ...
- "Schaubby's getting his mojo back. He's getting his confidence back. He's starting to believe in himself again. He is starting to throw with confidence." -- Raiders defensive tackle Antonio Smith, on 33-year-old quarterback Matt Schaub
- "Theo to me had one of the best offseasons I've seen in a long time for a young guy." -- Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch to the Detroit News on much-ballyhooed running back Theo Riddick
The latest "Around The League Podcast" offers up team-by-team training camp previews of the NFC East and NFC West.