Calling the incident that got him benched “a lapse in judgment” and saying being relegated to the sideline for two games after being named the Browns’ starting quarterback “sucked,” Johnny Manziel talked with reporters Wednesday for the first time since Mike Pettine benched him two weeks ago, then announced Tuesday he’d be back as the starter for Sunday’s game vs. the 49ers.
The Browns have sent four press releases since Nov. 17 announcing their starting quarterback. The latest Cleveland quarterback carousel started after Manziel reportedly lied to Pettine about social media photos and videos that popped up after the team’s bye weekend.
Manziel wasn’t interested in questions about the demotion but called himself “fortunate” to get another chance.
Earlier Wednesday, Pettine said he’s seen improvement from Manziel and that the team wants “to get a good sense of where we are with [the quarterback] room moving forward.”
Perhaps most interesting was that Manziel said he doesn’t believe he’s on his last chance with the Browns and that the organization “still believes” in him.
Manziel was even asked directly about his home-state Cowboys and what have become faily common public flirtations by Jerry Jones.
“I’m not giving up on myself being here,” Manziel said.