Why Manziel shouldn't start this year

From the moment his name was called and he strode confidently across the Radio City Music Hall stage, Cleveland Browns hat pulled down over his eyes, flashing his infamous “money sign”, the questions started about Johnny Manziel.

Would his off-field exploits – his bar fights and trips to Vegas – prove too much of a distraction? Could he be the quarterback to lead the Browns out of the AFC North for the first time in more than a decade? Could you build a franchise around his talents?

But the most pressing question, the one the Johnny Football-obsessed American media wanted the answer to, was when would he start?

Ohio native Brian Hoyer had done a decent job during an injury-plagued 2013 season, but surely it was only a matter of time before he proved ineffective and Manziel superseded him.

Browns fans were buying into the hype around the brash young gunslinger, with Manziel selling more jerseys than established stars Peyton Manning, Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck combined.

Three weeks into the NFL season and the Browns are 1-2 and bottom of the AFC North. Cue Manziel, right? Wrong.

Hoyer has relished his role under centre and the pressure that comes with having Manziel as a back-up. He has thrown a touchdown a game, completed 66 per cent of his passes and is yet to commit a turnover. The Browns’ two losses both came from field-goals on the final play of the game and their win was a wild comeback over the New Orleans Saints.

Any discussion about whether Hoyer was the starter or not was put to bed in Week 1 when he led the Browns back from a 27-3 deficit to draw level with Pittsburgh, before Ben Roethlisberger led a game-winning drive with 47 seconds remaining. Hoyer had given the Browns a chance, ultimately it was the defence that let them down.

Against the Saints, it was Hoyer’s turn to come up big in the clutch. He started inside his own five-yard line with 2.46 remaining, methodically marching down the field before he found receiver Andrew Hawkins wide open to set up the game winning field-goal.

Meanwhile, Manziel watched from the bench, and for now that’s where he belongs. Manziel may well be the quarterback of the future for the franchise, but they should be grateful they have Hoyer there to slow play that process. Throw Manziel into the mix now and he could turn out like Tim Tebow, a dual-threat quarterback who excelled in college but failed to make the leap to the pros.

Throughout the first three weeks, Manziel has been used sparingly and only for a play at a time, to give defences a different look. He was one of the greatest playmakers in college football history, the Hiesman Trophy winner as a freshman and a master of making something out of nothing.

But often players like Manziel don’t crossover to the NFL. There is a ton of quarterbacks who stuffed the stat sheets through the air and on the ground who are now on the scrap heap. JaMarcus Russell, Vince Young, Pat White and Troy Smith to name a few.

When these players aren’t pulling miraculous plays out of a hat, they can be undisciplined and inconsistent. It’s what cut their careers short. For now the jury is out on Manziel and whether he can be a pocket-passer and conventional quarterback or a perennial back-up.

However, there are, of course, a number of rookies who have excelled so far in season 2014.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin
A Florida State product, Benjamin is a 196-centimetre, 109-kilogram monster who caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Jamies Winston in the BCS National Championship game this year.

The Panthers took him with the 28th pick and would have no regrets based on what they’ve seen so far. Benjamin has been targeted a team-high 27 times, caught 16 balls for 253 yards and scored two eye-catching touchdowns through three games. Only Arizona Cardinals wide-out John Brown (3) has more touchdown catches than Benjamin, who leads all rookies in the remaining receiving categories.

In a wide-receiving class that includes Clemson’s Sammy Watkins, Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks and Texas A&M giant Mike Evans, Benjamin has been the most impressive to date.

Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller
Fuller graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in finance because the kid is money. He came up huge in the Bears Week 2 win against San Francisco, picking off two Colin Kaepernick passes in the fourth quarter, including one that preserved Chicago’s 28-20 lead.

He was at it again against the Jets in Week 3, picking off a Geno Smith pass and forcing two fumbles in the Bears 27-19 win. His instincts and nose for the football appear to be well suited for the traditionally stout Bears defence, which is looking to overcome the season-ending triceps injury to Charles Tillman.

Cleveland Browns running backs Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell
West – out of little known Towson University in Maryland – is currently ranked 10th overall among running backs with 204 yards through three games. He had also compiled two touchdowns, while Crowell – who went undrafted – has three and 141 yards on the ground.

Free agent signing Ben Tate was expected to soak up the majority of the carries for the Browns in 2014, but he suffered a knee injury in the opener against Pittsburgh. Since then the running back tandem have gashed defences behind a strong offensive line.

Manziel’s only highlight thus far has been a 39-yard reception on a trick-play which was negated by a penalty. Browns fans will be hoping he is more than just a one-trick pony and can eventually impress like his fellow rookies. But, for now, he’ll have to wait his turn on the sidelines.