Johnny Manziel Has Earned Chance to Start for Browns in Preseason Week 3

Yes, you read that title right.

No, I have not been drinking.

Much-beleaguered quarterback Johnny Manziel of the Cleveland Browns, who has been the butt of more jokes than road-crossing chickens, not only showed Browns fans some hope for the future during his impressive performance in Thursday's 11-10 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills, but he also earned the right to start the team's "dress rehearsal" at Tampa Bay next week.

You heard me.

Manziel was all the things the Browns wanted him to be when they drafted him last year. Efficient. Electrifying. He completed nine of his first 11 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown on a well-placed ball to an open receiver, Shane Wynn, in the back of the end zone. He extended plays with his legs and most importantly kept his eyes downfield while doing so: 

He played well.

And then, when the Bills scored with less than two minutes left in the game, putting the Browns down a point, Cleveland got a final chance—Manziel got a final chance—to set the Internet on fire.

And he tried. Manziel pulled a rabbit out of his hat on 3rd-and-15 that was vintage Johnny Football, scrambling around until he found an open man for 17 yards. After a penalty wiped that out, Manziel got 15 yards back on a mad scramble the play after.

The fourth-down play came up short, but still—there was real, palpable excitement during a football game in Cleveland. Yes, the passing numbers dropped to 10-of-18, but that's skewed a bit by desperation time.

According to David Glasier of the News-Herald, Manziel was relatively pleased with the effort, if not the results: “There were a lot of good fundamentals with the second group to get it in the end zone from 96 yards out,” Manziel said. "I’m still going out trying to make an impression.”

Granted, all the fourth-quarter drama took place against the end of both benches. In many respects, calling these players "benchwarmers" is being kind.

And yet, Manziel should still start against Tampa next Saturday.

Josh McCown, the Browns' presumptive starter under center, got Buffalo's first-team defense. And he looked an awful lot like Josh McCown doing it, throwing a pair of ugly interceptions.

The Browns are fully aware of what they have in McCown—sadly.

The same can't be said about Manziel. Yes, he was awful as a rookie. But in training camp, Mary Kay Cabot of the Northeast Ohio Media Group wrote that Manziel seemed much different in year two:

"

Manziel looks much more like an NFL quarterback this summer than he did all of last year, when his playbook collected dust while he partied like he was at A&M. He's reading his defensive keys, understanding and changing the protections, directing traffic and throwing to the right place most of the time. What's more, he's putting good spin on the ball and not bolting at the first sign of trouble.

"

And it's shown in the the preseason. This isn't to say Manziel has been perfect, or even great. But he's been better, especially on that 96-yard touchdown drive Thursday night.

David Richard/Associated Press

And now is the chance to see just how much better. The first-string offense. The first-string defense (for a team in Tampa that isn't the Bills). In a game that doesn't count.

Seriously, what do the Browns have to lose?

It's simple, really. The Browns know who McCown is. They hope they know who Manziel is. But if that hope truly includes Manziel as an NFL starter, now is the time to find out.

If not, the Browns should do the fans a favor and stop pretending it does.

Gary Davenport is an NFL analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter at @IDPSharks.