The Cleveland Browns entered the 2025 campaign with one of the most intriguing quarterback situations in recent memory. Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders were all competing for the starting job after Deshaun Watson re-ruptured his Achilles tendon back in January. Flacco eventually won the gig, and Pickett got traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.
It’s been a while since Cleveland has had a consistent option under center, with one of their failed quarterback projects being Johnny Manziel. After flaming out of the league, Manziel has made it clear he believes the Browns are to blame for him being a bust, with that train of thought drawing a harsh reaction from Dan Patrick.
Dan Patrick Flames Johnny Manziel After His Latest Browns Comments
After he enjoyed a standout college career with the Texas A&M Aggies, Manziel was selected by the Browns with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Character concerns led to Manziel falling so far down the board, but Cleveland was hopeful that they could ease the talented passer into the action and develop him behind the scenes.
That never really ended up happening, though. Manziel only took the field in 14 games over two seasons with the Browns before he essentially got run out of town by the team. With a slew of legal issues surrounding him during the 2016 offseason, Manziel remained unsigned. While he never returned to the NFL after getting released by Cleveland, Manziel spent time playing in the Canadian Football League, the Alliance of American Football, and Fan Controlled Football.
Manziel has not played football since 2022, instead transitioning to the world of sports media. During his various media appearances, Manziel has bashed the Browns, going as far as to say he “hates” them and that he hopes they go 0-17 every single season. After hearing his latest comments, Patrick called out Manziel for his decision to place the blame for his failed NFL career solely on Cleveland.
“Remember when he sent a message, ‘Draft me,’ sent that to the owner. They did, you just didn’t live up to what you were supposed to,” Patrick said on his “Dan Patrick Show.” “You’re blaming the Cleveland Browns for, maybe organizationally, not very good. Is it mismanagement? … To blame the Cleveland Browns, I mean, this keeps you in the news, but it is time to move on.”
Browns Hoping to Find a Long-Term Answer at Quarterback
GettyQuarterbacks Shedeur Sanders (left) and Dillon Gabriel (right) of the Cleveland Browns.
Pretty much every move the Browns have made at quarterback over the past decade has backfired in spectacular fashion. In fact, the only truly successful season they have had as of late came when Flacco was their starter in 2023. While the roster around him in 2025 is far less talented, the hope is that Flacco can at least keep the team afloat this year.
In the long term, Cleveland will be looking to see if either Gabriel or Sanders can become their quarterback of the future. If they can’t, chances are the Browns will look to the 2026 NFL Draft for another top-tier option. They struck out pretty badly on Manziel, so the team will have to be more thorough in their scouting in order to make sure that their next quarterback of the future lives up to the billing.
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