National Football League

More Browns QB struggles, more questions

Published Dec. 21, 2014 7:28 p.m. ET

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CHARLOTTE -- As the Cleveland Browns season spins to another disappointing finish, the franchise's never-ending quarterback carousel spins again.

It's another year that feels like all the other years.

Rookie Johnny Manziel made his second start Sunday vs. the Carolina Panthers but didn't make it out of the first half. Manziel said he felt what he thought was a cramp while making a throw in the second quarter, but after he he was hit hard and landed awkwardly on a designed run on the next possession he felt pain he'd never felt before.

He watched the second half from the sideline with what the team called a hamstring injury. After the game, Browns coach Mike Pettine said he didn't know the severity of the injury and isn't in position to name a starter for next week's season finale.

Round and round. A week after Manziel became the 21st different player to start a game at quarterback for the Browns, the Browns might have to go back to the one he replaced.

Pettine said after Sunday's game that the Browns offense was "not nearly good enough to win in this league."

He was talking about Sunday, but the same goes for the last two months.

When Manziel left Sunday, Brian Hoyer entered. Hoyer started the season's first 13 games before being benched for ineffectiveness.

Hoyer didn't play Dec. 14, when Manziel was intercepted twice, sacked three times and threw for just 80 yards in his starting debut against the Bengals. The Browns got five first downs and crossed midfield once in that game.

On Nov. 23, the Browns were 7-4. They're now 7-8 after losing Sunday, 17-13. An 81-yard touchdown pass from Hoyer to Jordan Cameron in the fourth quarter gave the Browns a lead, but they couldn't hold it. Hoyer started what would become the final Browns drive with a poorly thrown deep ball that was intercepted by Josh Norman, then taken back by Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin.

With 4:48 left and the Browns at the Panthers 49, Hoyer was hit hard on a sack Kawann Short. He was slow to get up, forcing the Browns to call timeout to allow Hoyer to gather himself.

Hoyer said he heard the call before the timeout from Browns offensive coordinator via the helmet radio that said, "You have to get up. You have no other choice."

The Browns carry only two quarterbacks on the active roster, and Manziel was on the sideline in a stocking hat as Hoyer caught his breath. After the game, Pettine said wide receiver Andrew Hawkins would probably be the emergency quarterback. Hawkins said 5'9 rookie wide receiver Taylor Gabriel is the emergency quarterback and takes snaps during Friday practices.

Gabriel probably won't be in the postseason discussion about who's going to be the quarterback going forward. The Browns have seen all of six quarters of Manziel as a starter, and he hasn't produced a touchdown. Hoyer's contract expires at the end of the season.

Hoyer said he got "zero" reps in practice this week. That happens to the backup, especially when the starter is a green rookie. Manziel needs all the work he can get.

The Browns had 134 yards through three quarters Sunday, 25 more than they got in four quarters in Manziel's debut.

Manziel was 3-of-8 for 32 yards Sunday.

"I just know as an offense, we weren't very productive," Pettine said.

After that sack and timeout in the final five minutes, Hoyer completed a pass to Josh Gordon for eight yards, making it fourth and 13 at midfield. The Browns punted and never got the ball back.

Both Hoyer and Manziel watched from the sideline as the Browns lost their fourth straight.

The Browns have three offensive touchdowns in those four games. Their season completion percentage is 54.8, lowest in the league. Their season third-down success rate is 29.9, lowest in the league.

Manziel admitted after the game he's at a low point.

"I'm frustrated," he said. "I've never done anything like this since I was a kid, in any sport. This is new to me and really frustrating."

Unfortunately, it's not new to Browns fans.

Round and round it's gone.

With no end in sight.  

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