Browns never thought of turning to Johnny Manziel in loss to Colts

CLEVELAND — Mike Pettine never mulled benching Brian Hoyer during Cleveland's dreadful showing Sunday. Hoyer missed two wide open receivers for touchdowns, threw two more interceptions and generated just 61 yards of second-half offense in a 25-24 last-minute loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Now we find out how much Pettine trusts hotshot rookie Johnny Manziel with the Browns' playoff chances flickering and the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals up next Sunday. Manziel spent the game on the FirstEnergy Stadium sideline in a Browns' parka braving the 37-degree, Lake Erie December chill.

Hoyer looked even colder often throwing off his back foot against a blitzing Colts' defense, completing just 14 of 30 passes for 140 yards with two interceptions. He has thrown just one touchdown over the past 29 possessions with eight interceptions and one touchdown during the past five games.

When Pettine chose to stick by Hoyer when many Browns fans clamored for Manziel last week, Pettine insisted Hoyer would bounce back. Instead, he regressed as the 7-6 Browns lost for the third time in four games.

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Asked if he's ready to change quarterbacks now, Pettine stiff armed the question raising more doubt about Manziel's readiness.

"I haven't even thought about it so it's something we'll get together and discuss at some point," Pettine said. "It's too fresh after this one to think forward. I did not consider a change during the game."

That might have been the most revealing hint that Pettine and his offensive coaches don't feel Manziel is ready despite leading a late, 80-yard touchdown drive in a Nov. 30 loss against a Buffalo Bills prevent defense. Nowhere inside the Browns' locker room was anyone calling for Hoyer's benching despite just three second-half first downs.

With how poorly Hoyer has performed, however, Pettine might owe it to his team to find out what kind of spark the improvisational Manziel can bring to a lifeless offense.

"I expect to start and play Cincinnati at home and I'll prepare that way,'' Hoyer said. "Nothing has been said.''

Asked his impression of Hoyer, Pettine didn't hold back.

"He did not play well enough for us to win,'' Pettine said. "We're in a bottom-line business."