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Brian Hoyer

AFC Notes: Browns, McCourty, Miller

December 8th, 2014 at 11:40am CST by Luke Adams

Let’s check in on a few Monday morning links from around the AFC….

  • In his latest notes post at CBSSports.com, Jason La Canfora touches on a handful of topics, suggesting the Colts should take a flier on Ray Rice, speculating that the Dolphins could make an offseason run at Jim Harbaugh, and arguing that the Chiefs need to consider quarterback options besides Alex Smith for 2015.
  • It’s time for the Browns to make the switch from Brian Hoyer to Johnny Manziel for the rest of the season, so the team can see what it has for the future, says Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. If Cleveland is going to start Manziel in Week 15, head coach Mike Pettine and the club should make the decision swiftly and announce it soon, rather than letting it linger until the middle of the week again, writes Pat McManamon of ESPN.com.
  • Hoyer earns a spot on Jason Fitzgerald’s “Stock Down” piece at OverTheCap.com for the second consecutive week, with Fitzgerald suggesting that if the Browns signal-caller gets a chance to start next year, it will likely just be as a stopgap for a team developing a young quarterback. Fitzgerald also writes that the recent play of Titans cornerback Jason McCourty has made him a reasonable candidate to be cut during the offseason.
  • On the other hand, Percy Harvin‘s performance on Sunday could make the Jets think long and hard about guaranteeing his “bloated” 2015 salary, given the team’s lack of big-play talent on offense, says Fitzgerald in his “Stock Up” post.
  • Appearing on WSVN in Miami, agent Drew Rosenhaus said yesterday that it’s disappointing the Dolphins don’t use his client – running back Lamar Miller – more often, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Miller has one year remaining on his rookie contract after this season.

Extra Points: Browns, Harbaugh, Peterson

December 7th, 2014 at 10:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Let’s take a look at some assorted notes as we wrap up the weekend…

  • The Browns quest to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002 took a hit today, but don’t expect the team to make any drastic changes. Following Cleveland’s 25-24 loss to the Colts, coach Mike Pettine addressed the play of quarterback Brian Hoyer (via David Campbell of Cleveland.com). “He did not play well enough for us to win,” Pettine said. “The entire team did not play well enough for us to win.” So, will the team make the switch to rookie Johnny Manziel? “I haven’t even thought about it,” said Pettine. “It’s something we’ll get together and discuss. It’s too fresh after this one.”
  • There isn’t only a quarterback controversy in Cleveland. According to Branson Wright of The Plain Dealer, the Browns may be looking for another kicker after veteran Billy Cundiff missed another key kick. “It’s obviously concerning,” said Pettine. “We get field goal attempts, we get a chance to put points on the board against a good team and you’ve got to be able to convert.”
  • There have been plenty of rumors regarding Jim Harbaugh‘s future with the 49ers, but the head coach was adamant that the whispers have not distracted his team, saying “it can’t be a factor.” The coach was also clear that he’s focused on this season. “My priorities are No. 1, winning football games,” Harbaugh said (via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com). “No. 2, the welfare of our players, coaches and staff. And, lastly, is what my personal professional future is.”
  • A resolution to the Adrian Peterson appeal will come eventually, and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com believes the running back will be on the field in 2015 if a deal is reached. If a deal isn’t reached, the writer warns that a lawsuit could be the next option.

More On Brian Hoyer’s Immediate Future

December 7th, 2014 at 10:07am CST by Rory Parks

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport writes that the Browns will continue to start Brian Hoyer at quarterback as long as the team is in the playoff hunt. However, Cleveland faces a daunting task against the Colts today, and a loss would thrust head coach Mike Pettine right back into a quarterback quandary next week. If that happens, Rapoport believes that Pettine would ride with rookie Johnny Manziel.

As PFR’s Zach Links wrote a few days ago, ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes that Hoyer will leave Cleveland in the offseason, possibly to reunite with Bill O’Brien in Houston. Schefter reiterated that point (via Twitter) this morning, noting that if the Browns fail to make the playoffs this hear, Hoyer will not be re-signed.

Schefter On Coughlin, Hoyer, Payton, Rams

December 4th, 2014 at 5:05pm CST by Zachary Links

We all love a good storyline and Week 14 is chock full of them, as ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter explains. This week, the Rams take on Washington and the Browns face the Colts, bringing back memories of two of the biggest trades to take place in the last few years. In 2012, the Rams traded the rights to draft Robert Griffin III to Washington and in 2013, Cleveland sent former first-round choice Trent Richardson to Indianapolis. Those deals involved four teams initially, but as Schefter explains in detail, they affected at least nine teams in a significant fashion. More from Schefter’s latest columns..

  • Some around the league believe that Giants coach Tom Coughlin could be coaching his final four games, though he will have plenty of say on whether this is the end for him. It won’t be necessarily easy for Big Blue to finish strong given their massive rash of injuries, but they’ve got a good chance. Over the next four games, they’re playing a quartet of quarterbacks who were backups at some point in 2014. The Giants get Jake Locker or an injured Zach Mettenberger on Sunday, Washington’s Colt McCoy the following week, then Shaun Hill‘s Rams, followed by a home tilt against Mark Sanchez and the Eagles.
  • Chances are that Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer will move on and out of Johnny Manziel’s shadow this offseason, writes Schefter in a different column. If that happens, the Texans would make some sense for Hoyer. There’s a huge mutual respect between Hoyer and Texans coach Bill O’Brien, as the pair worked together in New England. If they have a chance to work together, they would welcome it, according to Schefter.
  • Even if the Saints miss the playoffs, Sean Payton won’t be on the hot seat in New Orleans. Besides, Schefter rightly notes that the team’s remaining schedule is rather favorable and should result in an NFC South title.
  • The Rams’ entire offseason will be devoted to getting a quarterback, whether it’s through a trade, the draft or free agency. They will add at least one QB, and maybe even two, depending on whether Hill returns.
  • Torrey Smith played college ball in Maryland and might not want to leave the area, but there’s a chance that the Ravens let him walk in free agency. At the same time, there could be a lot of desirable free agent wide receivers this offseason, so he might not have a great market waiting for him.

Brian Hoyer To Start For Browns

December 3rd, 2014 at 10:37am CST by Luke Adams

Despite speculation that rookie Johnny Manziel would get his first NFL start this weekend against the Colts, the first-round pick will enter the game as Cleveland’s backup signal-caller once again, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. Glazer reports (via Twitter) that the Browns have informed Brian Hoyer he’ll get the start against the Colts this Sunday.

The decision to stick with Hoyer may surprise some, but Glazer suggests (via Twitter) that the veteran had “widespread support” inside Cleveland’s locker room, and that the decision was a “no-brainer” in the view of many players. Still, Hoyer has been erratic in recent weeks, throwing for no touchdowns and five interceptions against the Falcons and Bills, resulting in his benching in Buffalo. Manziel looked excellent in his first drive on Sunday, leading the offense down the field and running for a touchdown, but was shakier on his second series.

Despite Hoyer’s middling overall numbers (56.2% completion percentage, 11 TDs, 10 INTs), he has led the Browns to a 7-5 record this year, putting the club right in the thick of the Wild Card race in the AFC. Presumably, with a handful of rookies already manning the running back position, the team feels more comfortable that the veteran Hoyer – rather than the rookie Manziel – can keep the Browns’ playoff hopes alive on Sunday against the Colts. If Hoyer struggles again, Manziel may still get a look down the stretch — ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that Johnny Football could start the last three games for Cleveland if Hoyer loses on Sunday to Indianapolis.

Hoyer’s performance in the last quarter of the season could go a long way to determining not just his NFL future, but the future of the quarterback position in Cleveland. As Hoyer thrived in the first half, there was speculation that he could sign a long-term deal with the Browns, but if Manziel takes over the job down the stretch, it seems less likely that Cleveland will lock up Hoyer, who is in a contract year. That could ultimately open the door for another team to swoop in with an offer for Hoyer in free agency.

King’s Latest: Rice, NFLPA, Manziel, RGIII

December 1st, 2014 at 8:58am CST by Luke Adams

Within his latest Monday Morning Quarterback column, Peter King takes a look at many of Sunday’s more noteworthy games, and also touches on several other topics of interest. Here are the highlights from King’s newest piece:

  • Two NFL general managers who spoke to King had no interest in signing Ray Rice themselves, but predict he’ll be with a team in training camp in 2015. King believes there’s a very slim chance the running back signs anywhere in 2014, calling the Saints a long shot and the Colts a longer one. However, the executives who spoke to King think that the league’s other notable embattled running back, Adrian Peterson, is a much better bet to find work if and when the Vikings let him go, since his play hadn’t fallen off prior to his off-field troubles.
  • Although the NFL and NFL Players Association met last week to discuss the personal conduct policy, the league didn’t respond to the NFLPA’s written proposal on the policy, and the union isn’t happy about it. “They just want to meet with the union,” president Eric Winston said, “so they can say they got our input, and then do whatever they want.”
  • King would be “very surprised” if Johnny Manziel doesn’t get the chance to start next Sunday for the Browns against Indianapolis, though he views it as an “all-hands-on-deck game,” with Brian Hoyer ready to be called on at any time
  • In King’s view, Washington needs to play Robert Griffin III before the end of the season, either to decide whether to keep him or to showcase him for a potential trade. However, Colt McCoy‘s solid play yesterday will keep RGIII on the bench for at least another week..
  • King wrote back in June that Janay Rice “made a moving case for leniency” for her husband during Rice’s hearing with the NFL, but in the wake of Friday’s release from Judge Barbara Jones which suggested that wasn’t the case, King has retracted that report.

Browns Could Move Forward With Manziel

November 30th, 2014 at 10:09pm CST by Rob DiRe

After a strong start to the NFL season, Brian Hoyer has cooled off considerably in recent weeks. He threw eight touchdowns to only two interceptions in the first seven games of the season, as the team stayed in contention in the AFC North.

Since then, he has thrown only three touchdowns to eight interceptions. The Browns are still in the hunt in the AFC, but after playing horribly in a loss to the Bills earlier today, Hoyer was benched by head coach Mike Pettine. First-round pick Johnny Manziel promptly took over, completing five of his eight passes and adding a rushing touchdown.

Now that Manziel has seen the field as the leader of the huddle, it may be difficult to put him back on the sidelines. Hoyer’s play has not done much to convince the organization otherwise in recent weeks. Still, Pettine will wait until Wednesday to announce the starter heading into next week’s game against the Colts, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter).

The moment wasn’t too big for Manziel, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com. His poise in the moment makes him the frontrunner for the starting job the rest of the season. “It’s a football decision,” said Pettine. “Nothing else will factor into it, just pure football.”

Peter King of Sports Illustrated agrees that it is time for Manziel (via Twitter). With only four games left and the playoffs on the line, the team needs a spark if it plans on grabbing either the division title or a wild card berth.

Manziel is prepared for the opportunity to get his first NFL start, writes Jeff Schudel of the Morning Journal. “That’s obviously up to Coach Pettine and some higher people than me in this organization,” Manziel said. “But if that’s the case and my name is called, I’ll definitely be ready.”

Hoyer was obviously unhappy with the prospect of losing his job midway through the season, according to Schudel. “Obviously you never want to see someone else doing your job, but it’s the coach’s decision,” Hoyer said. “I mean this is my team and I’ve always felt that way. We’ll see what happens.”

Despite the recent rough times, Hoyer still supports the Browns’ playoff chances for the stretch run. “I just keep pressing on,” Hoyer continued. “I’m not the one that makes the decision. I’m not going to just hang my head and feel sorry for myself. We have four games left, and whatever Coach decides to do, I’ll be here to support this team.”

AFC North Notes: Hoyer, Manziel, Rice

November 25th, 2014 at 5:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group implores you not to adjust your computer screens. Yes, the Browns and the Bills are set to play a meaningful late season game. “This is going to be an old-fashioned, blue-collar matchup as much as it can be when all the players are millionaires,” said Hall-of-Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure, who played for both franchises. “The teams are similar and so are the fan bases. I’ve told people that fans of these two cities will buy tickets before they’ll buy their kids jackets. That’s how much the franchises mean to their cities.” More on the Browns and other notes from the AFC North..

  • The Browns are committed to Brian Hoyer for the rest of the season, but they’re not sold on him long-term, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report. Johnny Manziel might be the long-term answer, perhaps as soon as next season, but they won’t be trotting him out there to start this year.
  • After the Ray Rice situation and some other contract issues were cleared up, the Ravens are now $4.287MM under the NFL salary cap limit of $133MM, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. Still, should Rice win his grievance against the Ravens for wrongful termination, he would be owed $3.529 million in salary that he was due before the team cut him Sept. 8 when a graphic video surfaced of his domestic violence incident.
  • Joe Kruger, the brother of Browns outside linebacker Paul Kruger, visited the Steelers, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).

AFC Notes: Hoyer, Woodson, Broncos, Colts

November 21st, 2014 at 3:08pm CST by Luke Adams

Just when we thought we were getting a clearer sense of what the playoff picture in the AFC would look like, the 7-3 Chiefs got knocked off by the 0-10 Raiders last night, clearing a path for the Broncos to reclaim the West division and opening the door for a handful of other contenders to push Kansas City for a Wild Card spot. As we look forward to seeing what other surprises this weekend’s games bring, let’s check in on the latest out of the AFC….

  • It remains to be seen what kind of contract Brian Hoyer will land in the offseason when he becomes eligible for free agency, but it looks as if he’ll be in for a modest payday before then. As Jeremy Fowler and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com detail, Hoyer will earn more than $2MM in incentives if he handles 70% of the Browns‘ offensive snaps this year, which he’ll do assuming he’s not injured or benched in the next couple weeks.
  • Speaking to Peter King of TheMMQB.com (Twitter links), veteran defensive back Charles Woodson said he has no regrets about re-signing with the Raiders this year and hopes to play at least one more season beyond 2014.
  • With Ronnie Hillman still sidelined, don’t be surprised if the Broncos promote running back Jeremy Stewart off the practice squad this weekend, tweets Lindsay Jones of USA Today. Stewart would be the club’s No. 3 back on Sunday ahead of Kapri Bibbs.
  • Elevating a running back to the active roster is also a possibility for the Colts, according to head coach Chuck Pagano, who told reporters today that Zurlon Tipton could be promoted from the practice squad (Twitter link via Mike Chappell of RTV6).
  • At 2-8, the Jets have no hope of reaching the postseason this year, but there are plenty of questions that must be answered down the stretch, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. Besides the much-discussed fates of Rex Ryan and John Idzik, Cimini points to the quarterback position, free-agents-to-be, and in-season acquisition Percy Harvin as things to keep an eye on.

AFC Notes: Hoyer, Oher, Broncos

November 16th, 2014 at 11:04am CST by Rory Parks

Much has been made of Brian Hoyer‘s future as the impending free agent continues to inch the Browns closer to an improbable playoff berth, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter writes that, if Hoyer does leave Cleveland after 2014–which would “shock” at least one prominent talking head–the Texans would be a likely destination. As Schefter writes, “Hoyer trusts [Texans head coach Bill] O’Brien as much as any coach in the league from their time together in New England, per sources, and would welcome a reunion.” Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was the Cardinals‘ head coach during Hoyer’s one season in Arizona, would also have interest in bringing Hoyer to Tennessee. Schefter writes that a long-term deal between Hoyer and Cleveland will “get done only as soon as the Browns truly are ready to make Hoyer, not Johnny Manziel, their long-term quarterback.”

Now for some more links from the AFC (an NFC Notes post from this busy Sunday can be found here):

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