Cleveland Browns, Brian Hoyer reunion makes sense

There’s fear that Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel could end up being one of the fastest and most high-profile busts at the position if he doesn’t clean up his act incredibly quickly, and the amount of change Manziel must undergo will be steep. This is a guy who has been described as a “joke” by teammates for his lack of attention to the game and busy nightlife, and that’s clearly not what you would expect from a rookie quarterback trying to establish himself as a starter and team leader. In a way, he’s the anti-Brian Hoyer.

According to the Akron Beacon Journal’s excellent Nate Ulrich, Hoyer’s famous agent Joe Linta stated that the Browns have reached out with preliminary interest in re-signing Hoyer after benching him down the stretch of the regular season in an effort to spark the offense on their quest to sneak into the playoffs in a tough AFC North. It obviously didn’t work out for them, and they are scrambling for answers at the quarterback position.

There are many QB-needy teams out there, but there aren’t enough legitimate options at the position to feed them. For starters, the draft cupboard is relatively bear and completely unclear after Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, who aren’t even sure things due to scheme and character concerns, respectively. Meanwhile, the crop of veteran quarterbacks available is underwhelming, especially since stopgaps need to be paired with promising prospects, as was the case with the Hoyer-Manziel combo in Cleveland.

Essentially, the Browns don’t have any better options than Hoyer right now, because who would they pair with Manziel heading into the 2015 regular season? It’s clear that they need to have a safe, experienced hand at the position who won’t implode, because they can’t count on anything from Manziel, who is already fighting for his job after just one season; that’s what happens when you become a weekly headcase and severely fail to perform on the field.

Based on Linta’s comments to Ulrich in a phone interview, the Browns interest in bringing back Hoyer hasn’t led to anything resembling substantial talks. In a sense, reaching out to Hoyer was the easiest decision for Ray Farmer and the organization to make, simply because there aren’t any better options.

They could try and draft someone, which means that they would give up on Manziel. But if they draft someone, are they comfortable with him starting as a rookie? My guess is “no”, since only Mariota and Winston fit that bill, and it’s very unlikely for either to be available for the Browns. They could always trade up, but that isn’t ideal.

Hoyer isn’t the answer to the Browns problems at the quarterback position, and that’s why they benched him in the first place. He isn’t afraid to challenge defenses and is the perfect leader, but his inconsistent accuracy and below-average physical tools prevent him from being anything more than a career stopgap type. Hoyer is probably one of the best backup quarterbacks in the game, but the Browns situation is so dire that he could even enter the season as their starter again.

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It’s pretty clear that a Hoyer reunion makes sense for the Browns, because he’s had some success with them before and is someone they can trust, which is much more than what we can say about Manziel at this stage. They need to find an adequate, known quantity at quarterback of some sort, and their best option is to keep someone who was already on the roster.

The real question is, how much would a reunion make sense for Hoyer? It’s hard to say since the draft hasn’t taken place, and it’s hard to see how teams stack up. Signing earlier is generally better, though, since options after the draft are more restricted, though a team that drafts poorly at QB could be more desperate to sign a signal-caller like Hoyer.

Dec 21, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) throws the ball during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

There are several QB-needy teams out there, and Brian Hoyer is realistically one of the best veteran options at the position, meaning that he’ll have a few suitors lined up. There are reasons to believe that the Browns might be one of the best options due to their offensive line, defense, and running game, but their constant coaching turnover and the unknown futures of pass-catchers Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron make things more difficult.

Linta and Hoyer will be interested in squeezing as much money as possible, as Linta is one of the best agents in the game and Hoyer is someone who clearly believes in his skill-set. The Cleveland Browns aren’t in a position to be too cheap at the quarterback position, because their situation is one of the most questionable in the game. Manziel still has plenty of ability and could turn things around, but the risk involved gives Hoyer plenty of leverage.

That said, the opportunity to start is clearly there for Hoyer in Cleveland, and that’s something that can’t be said if he signs with a team like the Tennessee Titans, who believe in second-year pro Zach Mettenberger more than the Browns believe in Manziel despite the difference in draft stock.

It’s a complicated situation for both sides, but I think it makes sense for both parties to stick together. The Browns need a quarterback like Hoyer, since he’s the only person who wouldn’t be a question mark for them. Meanwhile, the Browns give Hoyer an excellent opportunity to start again, they’ll probably hand the QB an offer that is as good as what he’s get anywhere else, and the former New England Patriots backup has always seemed interested in staying with his hometown squad.

Per Ulrich, Hoyer’s interest is contingent on a meeting with head coach, GM, and new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, and his comfort level with the OC will likely dictate his interest. Ultimately, I think Hoyer’s familiarity with the organization, love for Cleveland, and ability to compete in what will be a wide-open competition should make the Browns as attractive of a job as there is for him.

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