Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Brian Hoyer has done a very good job of managing Kyle Shanahan’s offense, and he’s done it without Josh Gordon and some inconsistent play from star tight end Jordan Cameron. Armed with a strong running game and the emerging Andrew Hawkins, Hoyer has led the Browns to a 6-3 record. They are right there at the top of the division and own a blowout victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that was the more recent of their two matchups.
Factory of Sadness
Despite Hoyer’s strong play this season, CBS Sports’s Jason La Canfora reports that both sides have not engaged in talks so far this season. Per a league source close to La Canfora, the Browns have not made Hoyer a contract offer since the spring, and it’s clear they are conflicted after drafting franchise hopeful Johnny Manziel in the first round.
Hoyer was never interested in taking stopgap money, and he clearly isn’t interested now after proving he can efficiently move an offense over a significant number of games. The Browns are coming off of a big upset win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and Hoyer also did a solid job of moving the chains, though the big storyline was the defense’s terrific display of force.
Although Hoyer doesn’t have enough physical tools to be a true franchise quarterback, you can win with him at the helm. It’s going to be difficult for the Browns to balance their desire to check out what Manziel can do and the safety of keeping Hoyer, who has established himself as a quality QB. Despite a low completion percentage, he is averaging eight yards per attempt, and those numbers will only get better once Gordon comes back.
La Canfora reports that Hoyer will try to get a deal similar to the one Andy Dalton received, and I wonder if he’ll point to how badly Dalton played in Week 10. Hoyer, of course, will become a free agent after this season.