Cleveland Browns roster news 2015: Mike Pettine open to possibility of Johnny Manziel as a starter

Johnny ManzielWikimedia Commons

Cleveland Browns' Johnny Manziel is expected to enter training camp again as the no. 2 quarterback but head coach Mike Pettine is not turning down the possibility that he may be starting for them in the season opener.

Manziel has been trying to fix his personal life recently and just came out of rehab a few months ago.

During last year's training camp, "Johnny Football" was also the no. 2 quarterback behind Brian Hoyer who started for the Browns.

Late in the 2014 season Manziel replaced Hoyer as a starter but struggled as the Browns missed the playoffs for the 12th consecutive year, finishing the regular season with a 7-9 record.

As training camp begins, Pettine said that newly acquired quarterback Josh McCown, who is a 12-year veteran, will likely be the starter on opening night but Manziel can still compete for the starting nod.

"Now, I wouldn't say I'm guaranteeing today that Josh McCown is going to be the starter against the Jets. A lot can happen in a preseason," Pettine said according to Cleveland.com.

He also stated "I wouldn't rule it out (Manziel starting), but if I had to say 'will Josh McCown likely be our day one starter' to answer that question, I would say he would likely be, but I don't want to say he is. I don't want to guarantee it."

Pettine cited McCown's rich National Football League experience, which is giving him leverage as a starter over Manziel who will just be entering his second season this 2015. 

In a report by ESPN, Pettine said that his approach with regards to other positions for the Browns will be the same with McCown and Manziel. There will be assigned starters heading to training camp, although they are not assured to start against the New York Jets in the opener since offseason competition may change that.