Browns' quarterback Johnny Manziel humbled by dismal debut
Cleveland quarterback is shut down by the Bengals but the Browns vow to support him
Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel admitted his first NFL start, a 30-0 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that essentially eliminated Cleveland from the play-offs, was the toughest day he's ever had on a football field.
Along with being sacked, taunted, embarrassed and generally mistreated by the Bengals, "Johnny Football" got humbled.
I've played in a lot of games from high school through college and I've never been shut out until then. It was definitely tough
"It's the first game I've ever not scored a point in and been shut out," Manziel said. "I've played in a lot of games from high school through college and I've never been shut out until then. It was definitely tough."
And humbling?
"Absolutely," he said. "Very humbling."
Unable to move Cleveland's offence, Manziel completed just 10 of 18 passes for 80 yards. He was intercepted twice, chased around like a fox trying to escape hungry hounds and looked lost in the Browns' biggest game of the season. This wasn't the debut he, legions of his fans or anyone in Cleveland's organisation had in mind when he was promoted to replace Brian Hoyer after 13 games.
"You just don't really envision that in your head when you're good throughout the week and you have a really good week of practice," said Manziel. "You feel really confident and really prepared, and then something like that happens."