The Dallas Cowboys have a backup quarterback problem, and the Cleveland Browns may possess the solution in a quarterback who's done his best work in the state of Texas.
The Browns could have a new head coach and/or general manager in place before next season, and the new brain trust may not be so willing to endure the distractions that come with Johnny Manziel. Given his Texas ties, many are wondering:
Should the Cowboys make a run at acquiring Johnny Manziel in the offseason?
David P. Woods: It's widely accepted that quarterback is the most important position in sports, but many NFL teams still underappreciate the importance of the backup quarterback. If the Cowboys had managed to win just one or two games in Tony Romo's absence, they would be in playoff contention. Instead, they're paying the price for recklessly entering the season with only Brandon Weeden as a fallback plan. Manziel is far from a polished passer, but he's the kind of player who could win the Cowboys a game or two in a pinch.
Gino Bottero: Romo is going to be 36 when next season begins, and he's missed the conclusion of three of the last six seasons. It's time for the team to start thinking about the future, and Manziel - a player currently on track to be out of the league altogether in the near future - isn't that.
Woods: We still don't know what Manziel is or can be. What we do know is that he needs a fresh start. And what we can assume is that he won't be expensive to acquire. The Cowboys have a lot of money tied up in Romo, so hunting for cheap upside at the backup quarterback spot makes a lot of sense. For all Manziel's faults, he still oozes upside.
Bottero: Manziel hasn't been able to recreate the magic he displayed in College Station through seven starts, and hasn't shown enough to lead anyone to believe he can make it as a pro. This isn't a first-round pick that we're giving up on too early - this is another Brady Quinn situation where the Browns reached and missed.
Woods: The Cowboys are perhaps the ideal situation for Manziel to develop into a starting-caliber passer. There will be no pressure for him to start over Romo, but Romo won't be around for many more years. Manziel can continue getting his personal life in order (with the help of the Cowboys, who are experts in managing off-field drama) and hone his quarterbacking skills for when he eventually inherits the mantle.
Bottero: Manziel would only add to the laundry list of off-field distractions around the Cowboys. Romo and Jason Garrett already face enough questions about Jerry Jones and Dez Bryant in the Dallas pressure cooker and don't need to field even more about their backup quarterback.
Woods: Bryant might be out of football by now were it not for the Cowboys instituting a strict set of rules and employing a full-time team of babysitters for the star. The same model could work for Manziel. If not, it's no big loss for the Cowboys. Acquiring Manziel is a low-risk, high-reward move.
Bottero: The Cowboys are going to finish the season with four or five wins. With the win-now mentality Jones employs, high draft picks aren't easy to come by in Fort Worth. The place for the Cowboys to find their next quarterback is the draft, where they can bring in a prospect to groom behind Romo.
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