Brain Hoyer and Johnny Manziel compete to be the CLE starting QB

Brain Hoyer and Johnny Manziel will compete to be the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback according owner Jimmy Haslam and new head coach Mike Pettine.
Whoever ends up starting will have questionable weapons around them. The pending suspension of receiver Josh Gordon leaves the Browns searching for bodies.

Gordon hauled in 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns last season, a fantasy beast. With him gone tight end Jordan Cameron steps in as the team’s number one target. Cameron was up and down last season due to the Browns lack of consistency at quarterback. In the three games Hoyer started Cameron had lines of 6-66-3, 10-91-1 and 3-36-0. He only had one game the rest of the season where he had double-digit targets and finished with 80 catches, 917 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. Entering his fourth NFL season, the 6-foot-5 former basketball player, should only get better.

The Browns lack explosive players on the outside and are hitching their wagon to veteran wideouts. Nate Burleson was signed prior to the draft. He broke his left arm for the second time in two years and will be out until training camp. Earl Bennett and Miles Austin were signed this week. Austin, who turns 30 next month, has struggled to stay healthy and only caught 24 passes in 11 games last season for Dallas.

When 5-foot-7 Andre Hawkins is the most exciting player on the depth chart, the Browns have issues.

Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has a shiny new toy in Manziel but might be forced to play conservative football early. Alex Mack returns to anchor the center position. Joel Bitonio, the team’s second round pick should slide in at right tackle and Joe Thomas is the Browns rock on the blind side.
Ben Tate was signed to be the teams lead back. As Arian Foster's back-up, Tate averaged 4.7 yards per-carry in Houston. He has missed 24 games in four years. Cleveland selected Terrence West in the third round. West scored 84 career touchdowns at the FCS level and at 5-foot-9 some compare him to Washington's Alfred Morris. West is worth keeping on the watch list with Tate's injury history.

The Browns are just trying to send a message to their polarizing rookie signal caller. Everyone knows Cleveland isn't Hollywood. It might take Manziel's legs and attitude to jump-start the Browns offense early in the season.

Without Gordon everyone on offense takes a hit. Hoyer only started three games last season before a torn ACL. Manziel is worth a late round pick for his potential alone. Tate and Cameron are solid mid-round selections. If Gordon is only suspended eight games, he's too talented to not want burning a hole on your bench. From week eight to 11 last year Gordon caught 36 passes for 774 yards and five touchdowns.

Cleveland will be exciting once again. It just might take a little longer than some were hoping.