LB Kruger on Browns QBs: ‘Hoyer is the guy’

Brian Hoyer, not Johnny Manziel, is 'the guy,' according to Paul Kruger. (USATSI)

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Expect to get a lot this between now and, well, whenever Johnny Manziel is officially named the Browns starter. We saw it with Tim Tebow and Kyle Orton back in 2011, and we suspect everyone will be asked their thoughts on whether veteran Brian Hoyer deserves to start, or if Johnny Football gives the Browns the best chance to win now.

Which brings us to linebacker Paul Kruger, who had the question put to him in a recent interview with WISW-AM.

"In my mind, Hoyer's the guy," Kruger said (via NFL.com). "Hoyer came in, won us four games, unfortunately got hurt. The guy was on fire when he was healthy and he's proven himself at a different level and has worked extremely hard."

For the record, Hoyer started three games before an ACL injury ended his 2013 season but the point remains; he did something that Brandon Weeden could not: give the Browns -- and their fans -- hope that winning was, in fact, possible.

"You let the preseason go, see how they look and then make a decision," Kruger continued. "In my mind, Hoyer has been a good leader for us and somebody who has been able to win us a few games. It's tough to say but I think the preseason will be a big deal for both of them."

It's a fair point. And first-year coach Mike Pettine said last week that Hoyer is "securely ahead" when it comes to earning the job. Of course, Pettine added that Hoyer's lead wasn't "insurmountable." Put another way (in our mind, at least): Manziel isn't the starter now but a lot can change between now and Week 1.

(Worth pointing out: The Browns begin the season with games against the Steelers, Saints and Ravens before a Week 4 bye. If the team limps to an 0-3 start with Hoyer then you know how this will play out.)

Pettine said any quarterback competition won't take place until training camp next month.

"We haven't really been in the mode of thinking, 'He's this far ahead today. How much was the gap closed?''' the coach said last week. "They're still learning the basics of the offense. The rookies haven't been here very long. They're playing catchup from a playbook standpoint. So at this point, we really weren't keeping score. We'll be much more apt to do that once we get to training camp.''

Kruger, meanwhile, echoes what most of his coaches and teammates must already be feeling.

"I'm a little tired of hearing about him," he said. "It hasn't been a distraction, it really hasn't. It brings some excitement."

Right or wrong, this won't let up until Manziel gets on the field.

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49ers TE Vernon Davis plans to attend mandatory minicamp



49ers tight end Vernon Davis didn't attend the team's voluntary OTAs due to dissatisfaction with his contract. Next week, the 49ers open their mandatory minicamp. That means if you don't show up, it'll cost you. Davis wants to keep his money."You know what? I plan on being there," Davis said during a radio interview Thursday.Davis has two years remaining on the six-year, $42.7 million contract he signed in 2010. There's about $9 million in salary left on it, including $4.7 million for this season.



This is noteworthy because if Davis isn't going to hold out of a minicamp, it pretty much assures he won't hold out of training camp. The 49ers added another solid wideout this offseason in the trade for Stevie Johnson. That could lead to a slight drop in targets for Davis, but he remains an obvious top-five fantasy tight end. He accumulated 850 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. He and Colin Kaepernick displayed a great connection after Davis was a total afterthought for many games in 2012.