Browns tab Hoyer, not Manziel, as starting quarterback for Week 1

We have a decision: Brian Hoyer has beaten out Johnny Manziel as the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback.

For now.

Browns head coach Mike Pettine was underwhelmed by both quarterbacks' performances in the team's second preseason game against the Washington Redskins and had pondered delaying a decision he said he wanted made well in advance of the third preseason game.

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But Pettine clearly felt that Hoyer was the safer option, at least to start the season, which led to him naming Hoyer his Week 1 starter on Wednesday morning.

The Browns' opening trio of games could be quite tough — at the Pittsburgh Steelers, plus home games against the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints — and the prospect of starting a rookie against that slate had to be a bit frightening.

The exciting Manziel has been fair in two preseason games and actually has put up bigger statistics than Hoyer and led the team to more first downs. But Manziel was erratic against the Redskins and hit a low point when he flipped the opposing bench the bird, which Pettine frowned on after the game and admitted could be factored into his decision.

Hoyer has NFL starting experience, including three wins in three starts a year ago before suffering an ACL tear, and appears to be the steadier play. Although he fared poorly on Monday, his offensive line succumbed to a fierce rush and his receivers also let Hoyer down with dropped passes.

How long will his leash be? The Browns have a bye in Week 4, and a slow start by the team or the offense — which expects to be without star wideout Josh Gordon, a likely suspension candidate — could force Pettine to make a call to the bullpen for Johnny Football.

We know who will start against Dick LeBeau and the Steelers' defense in Week 1, but the Browns' quarterback story appears to be far from over.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm

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