Cleveland counting on Johnny Manziel to be good in first start
Vaunted rookie quarterback, who has been waiting patiently for his chance, faces Bengals
"Johnny Football's" days as a back-up are over this season.
Rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel will make his first NFL start on Sunday against Cincinnati, replacing the slumping Brian Hoyer as Cleveland try to pump life into their sagging play-off hopes.
After moving up in May's draft to get him and waiting seven months as he learned and watched from the sidelines, the Browns are finally setting one of college football's most captivating players loose with three games left in the season.
"We are trying to get the offence to perform at a higher level," Browns coach Mike Pettine said. "Johnny has worked very hard to earn this opportunity and it will be very important for every member of the offence to elevate their play for us to obtain our desired result."
Manziel's debut start will come in Cleveland's final home game, against a Bengals team Hoyer beat on November 6. The 22-year-old - the 21st starting quarterback for Cleveland since 1999 - will try to show the Browns he can be the franchise star they have coveted for two decades.
"I've tried to spend my entire season learning what it takes to become a pro and it's been great to watch Brian because he knows what it takes," Manziel said.