Mike Pettine shoots down report, says Johnny Manziel in Browns’ plans

A little less than a year ago, the Cleveland Browns drafted quarterback Johnny Manziel in the first round. It would be fairly crazy to give up on him after just two NFL starts, and Browns coach Mike Pettine said that’s not the team’s thought process.

An ESPN report said the team was “90 percent done” with Manziel, although it would be quite difficult to quantify such a thing at exactly 90 percent. Pettine said, “I filed that one in the ridiculous category,” about the report because the Browns aren’t ready to give up on Manziel. Manziel recently was released from a rehabilitation facility this offseason after spending about 10 weeks there.

“He’s very much in our plans,” Pettine said, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. “His career with us just hit the pause button (during treatment). He’s got to get himself right as a person before we worry (about the rest).”

There has been plenty of speculation that the Browns will trade their two first-round picks to move up and select Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. When asked about that, Pettine said, “Sure. Why not?” with a big grin, according to the Akron Beacon-Journal. Sometimes the best smoke screen at draft time is the truth, so who knows.

If the Browns think Mariota is a future superstar and can get him without paying an insane price, that makes sense. It wouldn’t make sense to simply give up on Manziel. They don’t know yet how Manziel will change after his rehab stint. And clearly Manziel had enough talent just a year ago to warrant a first-round pick. The early signs seem to be good at least.

“I can tell there’s something different with him,” said Browns cornerback Joe Haden, who had a “heart-to-heart” talk with Manziel on Monday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

This is clearly a key season for Manziel. It would be a great step for him to show he’s as dedicated to football as he needs to be, and to earn a spot in the Browns’ plans for the long-term future.