Cleveland Browns

Merril Hoge tips cap to Johnny Manziel on Twitter

Published Sep. 20, 2015 11:59 p.m. ET

foxsports

A few days after taking a playful jab at one of his harshest critics, Johnny Manziel let his play do the talking.

Manziel had a pair of deep touchdown passes to Travis Benjamin on Sunday, leading the Browns to a 28-14 victory over Tennessee and earning a virtual tip of the cap from ESPN analyst Merril Hoge.

Hoge was responding to a tweet from Manziel's agent, who sent a virtual wink and nod Hoge's way after the game. Hoge has had very few good things to say about Manziel's game in his brief NFL career, but that may change after he looks at the film of Manziel's first career victory as starter.

.@ErikBurkhardt good for Johnny and the Browns looking forward to watching it on tape in between looking for a tie tomorrow!
— Merril Hoge (@merrilhoge) September 20, 2015

On Monday morning, Hoge followed through on his promise to wear an orange tie if Manziel played well.

Heads up regarding @merrilhoge neckwear... He said if @JManziel2 played well he would dress accordingly pic.twitter.com/44P8yPboGc
— Hannah Storm (@HannahStormESPN) September 21, 2015

The Twitter fun stems from Manziel's joke about Hoge's rather large tie knots on Friday when he was asked to address Hoge's latest round of criticism.

Might be time to join Team Manziel: "I think Merril Hoge needs to worry about his big neck ties'' pic.twitter.com/oiPzdsezAJ
— Rex Kramer® (@RexDangerSeeker) September 18, 2015

h/t: Fansided