Here’s some of what Browns head coach Mike Pettine and quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel had to say about the quarterback competition following Monday’s practice……….
Mike Pettine – On if Hoyer getting reps with the ones today is still a statement that he’s ahead in the QB competition:
“Nothing’s changed. If there was a significant change on the depth chart, it would be reflected on the field.”
Mike Pettine – On if he might just start him (Manziel) to start him:
“I don’t know if I’d agree with that. To me, if you’re going to put a guy in a starting role, that needs to be earned.”
Mike Pettine – On if he needs to see him (Manziel) with the ones more often to get a better gage on that situation:
“Yeah, we will mix the reps this week, but as far as starting the game, we’ll make that decision as a committee. It’ll be based on several factors.”
Brian Hoyer – On how he approaches the next game knowing it will possibly determine who starts the season opener:
“I don’t change my approach at all. To me, this is my team until someone else tells me otherwise and you just come out here and try to be the best quarterback that you can. You just ignore all of the noise and the hype and worry about what goes on in that building and what I can control. For me that’s coming out here and practicing the best that I can and when I get a chance to play, playing the best that I can.”
Brian Hoyer – On following up on Whitner’s 50/50 comment:
“I think that everybody has their own opinions, and for me, he’s going against us every day. He can form whatever opinions he likes, but like I said, for me, that’s not a concern because all I’m concerned about is being the best quarterback I can be and earning those guys’ respect. The way you do that is going out on the field and game and executing.”
Johnny Manziel – On where he thinks he needs to improve moving forward after watching the tape from Saturday’s game against the Lions:
“Same thing as my initial thoughts after the game – saw some good things, saw some things I can improve on, but I felt like, for the most part, I went to the right spot with the ball, tried to get it to some check-downs and try and work through my progressions. I’m still getting better at. I thought it was a good starting point, and I took a lot away from the first game.”
Johnny Manziel – On if expects to start this week against the Redskins with the way reps have been divided up to this point in camp:
“I don’t expect anything. I expect to come out and get the reps and get the teamwork that I’m told I’m going to get. From there, go out and make the best of the opportunity that I have.”
Johnny Manziel – On if he hopes to start against the Redskins:
“I hope to do whatever the coaches tell me to do. That’s what I’m going to do, whatever they say, whether it’s No. 1’s, No. 2’s, whatever it is. I’m going to do what (Browns Head) Coach (Mike) Pettine and Coach (Browns offensive coordinator Kyle) Shanahan have in store for me.”
Johnny Manziel – On Browns DB Donte Whitner’s comments stating that the locker room was equally divided on who should be the starting quarterback and if he perceives it that way:
“I don’t feel any rift like that or anything going on in the locker room. As far as my end, I think they see two guys coming out playing football and competing as well as everybody else out on the field competing. Quarterback is obviously just the position that gets a lot of flash and gets a lot of attention, but at the same time there are guys battling all around. I don’t really know if there’s an exact split like that. It’s not something I’m really aware of right now. I know two guys are going out and competing, trying to move the ball down the field for this offense.”