As Johnny Manziel Takes a Hit, So Does Cleveland

The Browns’ Johnny Manziel being sacked by the Bengals’ Geno Atkins on Sunday. Credit David Richard/Associated Press

CLEVELAND — This city began Sunday shrouded in fog and brimming with expectation. Ever since Browns Coach Mike Pettine had announced a change at quarterback, the wait had been excruciating, the five days passing like a kidney stone.

Four hours before kickoff, fans streamed into the parking lots ringing FirstEnergy Stadium, arriving early to immerse themselves in the communal experience of preparing for the unknown.

They came to watch their beloved Browns engage in that phenomenon alien to northeast Ohio, meaningful mid-December football. They also came to watch an elusive, unconventional, reckless, exuberant and wholly unpredictable rookie who might — or might not — yet be their savior at quarterback.

They came for Johnny Manziel.

So did the Cincinnati Bengals, who contained him in the pocket, turned his confidence into indecision and celebrated sacks and pass deflections by mocking him, making the symbol for money that Manziel uses in his touchdown celebrations. They rubbed their fingers together so often that they might have worn holes in their gloves.

Read more  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/15/sports/football/as-browns-johnny-manziel-flops-in-debut-clevelands-spirits-take-a-hit.html?_r=0