Will Browns owner Jimmy Haslam's affinity for Johnny Manziel shake up Cleveland's draft plans come Thursday night?
Mike Pettine says that's not a threat, telling NFL Media's Aditi Kinkhabwala on Tuesday: "that would never happen."
Cleveland has been linked to Teddy Bridgewater as a passer some inside the organization see as the most NFL-ready quarterback in the draft, one who could learn from afar with Brian Hoyer returning from ACL surgery. But the question is what the Browns will do if Manziel is sitting there when Cleveland is on the clock at No. 4.
The team worked out a whopping 11 quarterbacks this spring. Asked which of those prospects is most equipped to be a starter this season, Pettine told Kinkhabwala: "Johnny Manziel." Asked which passer presents the most problems for a defensive coach, Pettine doubled down, saying: "Manziel again."
Pettine recently said Kyle Shanahan's evaluation of the quarterbacks would carry more weight than his own, and last week the offensive coordinator said of Manziel: "It's obvious how good of a player he is, how fun he is to watch," per The Plain Dealer. "I think it does translate to the NFL. If you can make those plays in college, you can do it in the NFL."
We're mired deep in smokescreen country; it's anyone's guess what the Browns will do -- or if Manziel will even be there at No. 4.
Either way, if Haslam's admiration for Johnny Football clashes with the months of work done by general manager Ray Farmer and his scouts, this team has a potential problem on their hands.
Pettine says that won't be an issue, and Fox Sports' Jay Glazer agrees:
The "Around The League Podcast" Draft Preview Spectacular is all you need before draft day.
