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Johnny Manziel's Browns coaches say QB could play again this season

BEREA, Ohio -- With Johnny Manziel placed on the shelf, and with his credibility with the Cleveland Browns lower than it’s ever been, it’s worth looking at what he’s given the Browns on the field:

  • He has five starts.

  • He went 1-4 in those games.

  • He has played in parts of six other games.

  • He has completed 57.7 percent of his 163 passes (league average: 63.1 percent).

  • He averaged 6.8 yards per attempt (league average: 6.7).

  • He has five touchdowns and four interceptions.

  • He was sacked 17 times.

  • He fumbled six times, losing three.

  • He missed two preseason games with elbow tendinitis.

  • His passer rating is 78.5 (league average: 88.4).

  • His career high for passing yards in a start was 372 yards. His career low was 80 in his first start.

The records of other quarterbacks in their first two seasons with the Browns: Brandon Weeden 5-15, Colt McCoy 6-15, Charlie Frye 6-12, Brady Quinn 3-9 and Brian Hoyer 10-6.

A full timeline of Manziel with the Browns is available here.

Even with this, and even with the reality that Manziel lied to his coach, the Browns say he could find his way back to the field again this season.

“Josh McCown is our starter,” coach Mike Pettine said. “Austin Davis is our two. Johnny is our three. I won’t speak beyond that right now. Things can change. As far as declaring a starter for the rest of the year, we will see how this plays out in the short-term.”

“You know, you don’t close doors on anything,” offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said. “You never say never. To say Johnny won’t play again this season, I’m not going to say that.”

Pettine and DeFilippo were probably the two people most involved in the decision to demote Manziel.

“I think all of us as people, myself included, we’re all a work in progress every day,” DeFilippo said. “Some of us deal with different issues. We know Johnny’s issues. We’re working with him every day. And there’s no doubt in my mind Johnny’s going to bounce back.”