Browns quarterback Josh McCown has three consecutive 300-yard games, including Sunday's 457-yard overtime performance in a win against the Ravens. When offensive lineman Joe Thomas was asked about the veteran's success, he took a quick jab at people who thought Johnny Manziel should be starting.
When asked about #Browns QB Josh McCown's performance, LT Joe Thomas quipped, "Put in Johnny. That’s all I can say."
— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) October 11, 2015MORE: McCown among Week 5's top performers | Ranking NFL's undefeateds
Another reporter heard the same quote and added Thomas was "horsing around" when he made the comment. It was a response to people who complained when McCown was put back into the starting lineup after missing Week 2. Many thought Manziel played well enough in his lone start this season to earn the starting job, but maybe Browns coaches knew what they were doing.
McCown has been electric in his last three starts, completing 68 percent of his passes with six passing touchdowns (two in each game), just one interception, one rushing touchdown and an average of 384 yards per game.
Most passing yards in a 3-game span by a @Browns QB: 1. Josh McCown 1,154 in 2015 2. Brian Sipe 1,038 in 1980
— Dan Murphy (@DMurph_BrownsPR) October 11, 2015As for the "put in Johnny" quote, Thomas was merely just trying to hype up his starting quarterback. He added some more thoughts on the matter.
“I’ve said I really had confidence in Josh from the beginning, and it was surprising to say the least that supposedly people on offense were begging to put Johnny in,” Thomas said, via The Chronicle Telegram. “Not that Johnny’s not a good option, but we see that Josh gives us so much flexibility. We’re not going to get stuck with Josh running a bad play because he sees the defense. He understands the run game. He understands protections and he’s surprisingly mobile for being 50 years old.”
The Browns defeated the Ravens, 33-30, in overtime Sunday.
