Browns' Pettine: 'This isn't a dead end' for Manziel
The Cleveland Browns are still hopeful Johnny Manziel will be able to turn things around after being demoted to third-string quarterback.
Head coach Mike Pettine stood by his decision Wednesday, but also made it clear that Manziel's future with the Browns is far from over.
"I certainly hope not," Pettine said, via NFL Media's Marc Sessler. "He's made great progress and there was no better proof than last Sunday against Pittsburgh. But sometimes, you gotta take a step back to take a few forward. ... We told him yesterday - this isn't a dead end. This is a hurdle. It's an obstacle. So, part of success in athletics is dealing with adversity, and this will be an example of it."
Manziel's benching came after video surfaced of him partying in Texas during the team's bye week. The Browns had previously announced that Manziel would serve as their starter for the remainder of the season.
"The position of quarterback is always going to be held to a higher standard than any other position on the team," Pettine said. "That's the reality. It's not just about talent. It's not just about what you do on the field. To be successful at the position requires a great understanding of what's involved in the non-physical aspects: The leadership, the trust, the accountability, responsibility, the diligence. You have to take the mentality that nobody is going to outwork you. That has to be understood when you play the position at this level.
"I can't emphasize enough the importance of the trust and the accountability piece. This is where we had an obvious shortcoming."