Johnny Manziel Destined to Fail as Browns' Starting QB

Johnny Manziel is starting again, and he will fail again. He will join The List. The List. You know The List.

The List is a freak of nature. A time loop. The longest losing streak in NFL history. It crosses different Cleveland Browns front offices and coaches. There has never been anything like it.

Each franchise has its own version of The List. The Chargers thought Ryan Leaf would be their franchise thrower. The Giants Dave Brown. The Raiders Todd Marinovich. On it goes. But eventually, in the modern era, those franchises find their franchise quarterbacks. The Browns don't. For them, The List just gets longer.

Manziel is not going to change this. If you believe he is, you're doing what the Browns are. You are fooling yourself. He can't run a modern offense. The coaching staff doesn't want him. That's clear. And his only punishment for misleading his coaches over the party pics (and instructing others to mislead about the pictures as well, according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer) was to sit one game. Yes, he will join The List.

The thing about The List is the startling capacity the Browns have shown—for over a decade now—for mass incompetence when it comes to the quarterback position. The List is dreams intertwined with stubborn delusion.

The List starts in 1999 with Tim Couch. He threw 64 touchdowns and 67 interceptions in five years. Broke his leg. Broke his thumb. Now an analyst.

Ty Detmer tore his Achilles. Later invested in a financial firm whose founder was indicted for fraud (Detmer wasn't implicated). Coaches high school football.

Spergon Wynn started one game in Cleveland in 2000, and the Browns lost 48-0. Was one of six quarterbacks drafted before Tom Brady. Now a commodities broker. All-Star member of The List.

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Doug Pederson was Brett Favre's backup. Started eight games and threw eight picks. Became a quality controls coach, quarterback coach and is now an offensive coordinator for the Chiefs.

Kelly Holcomb was supposed to be the successor to Couch. He threw 21 picks. Now chillin' with the family.

Luke McCown lasted a season as well. His brother is now a quarterback on the Browns.

Jeff Garcia was maybe the most talented name on The List. Lasted a season, 2004. Assistant on the Rams staff now.

Trent Dilfer played for Cleveland in 2005, just five years after winning a Super Bowl, and had 11 touchdowns and 12 picks with the Browns. On ESPN now. Occasionally mocks the Browns quarterback situation. He can do it. He was part of it.

In two years, Charlie Frye threw 22 interceptions. Became a high school assistant coach.

In 2007, Derek Anderson went 10-6. He couldn't hold on to the job over the next few years even with Brady Quinn as his primary competition, and by 2010, he was gone. Quinn? Also gone by 2010. A bust. Now on the radio. Ken Dorsey (2006) and Bruce Gradkowski (2008) spent some time on the Browns during the Anderson-Quinn years. The List ate them alive. Then Colt McCoy and Jake Delhomme in 2010. Busty.

McCoy's claim to fame in Cleveland is taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from the Steelers' James Harrison. McCoy clearly suffered a serious head injury.

On the sideline, the Browns' medical staff examined McCoy's left hand.

(As a side note: McCoy's father would destroy the Browns for their handling of McCoy, which would be the beginning of the NFL's revamping its concussion protocols. So one good thing came from The List.)

Seneca Wallace occasionally played wide receiver. That's all you need to know about his tenure in Cleveland. OK, one more thing: He would go on to make history. Two years ago Wallace would become the first black quarterback to start a game in Packers history.

Brandon Weeden threw 26 picks from 2012 to 2013. He was 97 years old. He's now a backup in Houston.

Thad Lewis started one game in 2012. He's a backup in Philadelphia. There was Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer and Connor Shaw. Hoyer is one of the few on The List to go elsewhere and do well. Then there was the other McCown.

Yes, The List is so cruel there are actually two McCowns on it.

Of all the names on this list, of all the busts and sad-face generators, there is no bigger name on it than Manziel. But also, there will be no bigger bust.

When asked about Manziel this week, coach Mike Pettine said, "We want to see him play. We want to see him build on the improvements he made on the field.

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"We have a guy we invested a lot in," he added. "We have four games left, and this will give us an idea of where we are moving forward." When asked what would happen if Manziel had another off-field incident, Pettine explained: "If something were to occur, I would imagine the repercussions would be harsh."

The problem is, that just isn't believable. One of the reasons Manziel has failed so far is—and this goes back to Texas A&M—he hasn't suffered significant consequences for his actions. His talent, or his perceived talent, has always provided a soft cushion for the aftermath of his foibles.

I don't think Manziel has learned a damn thing. I don't think he will anytime soon.

Which is why he will be a prominent name on The List.

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report.