Joe Thomas: Manziel 'ready to be an NFL starting quarterback'
Johnny Manziel is starting to look more like a starting NFL quarterback, even to one of the most important players on the Browns.
After Manziel completed 9-of-11 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns during Friday's scrimmage, Thomas had nothing but praise for the second-string quarterback, who also just missed an 80-yard touchdown pass to Josh Lenz on his very first play.
"He's really proved to a lot of people that this is important to him and he's ready to be an NFL starting quarterback,'' said Thomas via Northeast Ohio Media Group. "Playing well in the scrimmage tonight and looking like an NFL quarterback is another good step in the direction that he wants to go. He's just earning that trust of his teammates that he's going to need to do if he wants to be that starter. He impressed a lot of people out here tonight.''
Thomas, who said earlier this offseason that the difference between Manziel this year and last year was night and day, still believes there is no question that Josh McCown is still the team's No. 1 quarterback. McCown led the offense to a touchdown and a field goal on his two drives during Friday's scrimmage.
"Josh has done so many good things that to me it's not really a conversation about who should be the starter right now,'' said Thomas.
Heac coach Mike Pettine also saw a major difference in Manziel's performance, noting his presence and poise in the pocket.
"I think the think that jumps out is that he's much less antsy in the pocket,'' said Pettine. "He sets his feet, which is something you really didn't get to see much last year, and he's trusting his reads and I thought he placed the ball, I thought his location and accuracy was very good tonight."
h/t: Northeast Ohio Media Group
