NFL notes: Johnny Manziel named Browns’ new starting QB, cleared by NFL

There was no formal presentation or fanfare. No torch passing ceremony.

Browns coach Mike Pettine simply pulled Johnny Manziel aside and told him he would be Cleveland’s starting quarterback for the remainder of this season.

No longer just a celebrated bad-boy backup, Manziel joined an elite class.

The trick will be staying there.

Manziel’s budding pro career, dotted mostly by missteps on and off the field to this point –the NFL said Tuesday he will not be disciplined for a domestic case – seems to be finally headed in the right direction for him. Now, the Browns will find out if he can be their franchise QB.

Fresh off a strong start at Pittsburgh on Sunday, Manziel moved ahead of veteran Josh McCown on the depth chart, a switch that will either usher in a new era for the Browns or send them scrambling again to fill a troublesome position.

“I wanted the chance to be the guy and that was always my goal,” said Manziel, who was watching film before Pettine told him the news. “I’m excited, I think as I should be. This is a great opportunity with a great group of guys that are going to go out and fight with me every week.”

Pettine made the change before the team’s first bye-week practice, two days after Manziel passed for a career-high 372 yards in a 30-9 loss to the Steelers. He also flashed a few of those Johnny Football moments that won him the Heisman Trophy at Texas A&M.

After fumbling on his first play, Manziel regrouped and completed 33 of 45 passes with one touchdown. He didn’t lead the Browns (2-8) to victory, but Manziel showed he’s learning from his mistakes, growing more comfortable in the pocket and ready to take his biggest step yet.

“The performance against Pittsburgh validated for us the progress he’s made and the improvement he’s shown and that he deserves this opportunity,” Pettine said. “We understand where our season is at this point and this is a kid we’ve invested a lot in. This will give us an opportunity to see how far he’s come and what he’s capable of.”

On the same day he was named a starter, Manziel also learned he will not be fined or suspended for his actions in a domestic incident last month in Avon, Ohio. The 22-year-old was questioned on Oct. 12 by police following an in-car argument with his girlfriend.

The league said it interviewed several people, including Manziel and his girlfriend, who told police he had been violent with her. Manziel admitted to drinking before the argument. He was not arrested.

For Manziel, being named a starter is both a personal milestone and evidence that he’s turned his life around following a disappointing first season and 10-week stay in a Pennsylvania rehab facility for an unspecified condition.

Pettine is giving his players the bye weekend off. He spoke to Manziel about his behavior and the club’s expectations for him away from the field as the face of the franchise.

“He’s done some things to affect that trust, clearly,” Pettine said. “He understands it. He knows with these expectations comes great responsibility. That’s something he knows he has to return.”

Manziel promised his coach he would be a model citizen.

“I let him know that I’m not going to do anything that’s going to be a distraction to this team or be an embarrassment to the organization,” Manziel said. “I don’t think they’re going to have to worry about me this week.”

Once back to work, the Browns, who have dropped five straight games, will prepare for a Nov. 30 game against Baltimore, a Monday night matchup between two struggling teams certain to draw more TV viewers with Manziel starting.

“Coach Pett said I couldn’t ask for a better stage,” Manziel said.

And, it’s an ideal platform for the Browns to further evaluate Manziel’s growth as a quarterback and leader. Now 1-4 as a starter, the final six games could be an audition for 2016 and beyond.

“I was just looking forward to coming out and trying to have a little bit of a spark and more than anything, get some wins,” Manziel said. “That’s what I told coach Pett, no matter what happens, whether you think this may be for next year or whatever the case is, we’re going to win some of these games down the road.”

Giants sign Nicks

Hakeem Nicks is back with the New York Giants.

The team announced Tuesday that its first-round draft pick in 2009 was signed to replace fellow wide receiver Victor Cruz on the roster.

Cruz, who did not play this season, was placed on injured reserve because he needs surgery on his left calf.

Nicks played last season with the Indianapolis Colts. He had 38 catches for 405 yards and four touchdowns in the regular season, and six receptions for 98 yards and a score in the playoffs.

“This is home,” Nicks said. “You know what they say, `Let a dog roam, he’ll find his way home.’ They left the backdoor open for me.”

Nicks played five seasons with the Giants and was their leading receiver in the 2010 regular season and 2011 postseason. His five-year totals included 311 catches for 4,622 yards and 27 touchdowns. The 311 receptions and 4,622 yards are each the ninth-highest totals in Giants history.

Nicks has caught more passes (306) for more yards (4,538) from Eli Manning than any other receiver.

The Giants (5-5) have a bye this week and it will allow Nicks time to learn coordinator Ben McAdoo’s West Coast offense, a system the Giants put in after Nicks left.

Nicks has not played this season, although he did have an earlier tryout with the Giants.

“I told myself, `Just be patient, man, there’s a lot of football left,“’ Nicks said. “I knew I could help a lot of teams. I knew once November, December football came around I was going to be getting a phone call. I wanted it to be from here and it happened like this. I’m just ecstatic and happy that I’m back in the building.”

New York also signed tackle Emmett Cleary from the practice squad and waived linebacker James Morris and cornerback Tramain Jacobs from the 53-man roster. Wide receiver Julian Talley and cornerback Dax Swanson were released from the practice squad.

Cowboys make moves

The Dallas Cowboys waived quarterback Brandon Weeden on Tuesday with the possibility of Tony Romo’s return this weekend after missing seven games with a broken collarbone.

Weeden went 0-3 filling in for Romo and Matt Cassel was 0-4. It’s the longest slide by Dallas since the team lost the last seven games of 1989 to finish 1-15 the year owner Jerry Jones bought the team and hired coach Jimmy Johnson out of the college ranks at Miami.

The Cowboys also waived cornerback Corey White and running back Christine Michael. White was acquired off waivers from New Orleans in the offseason, and Dallas traded a late-round pick to Seattle for Michael the first week of the season.

The dumping of Michael leaves Dallas with two rookie backups to Darren McFadden with two career carries combined – both by Rod Smith for Seattle before he was waived by the Seahawks last month.

Trey Williams, an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M, was signed off Washington’s practice squad on Nov. 4.

Weeden got the first three starts after Romo’s injury, but didn’t present much of a threat down the field. He was replaced by Cassel after a 30-6 loss to New England that was the Cowboys’ first game without a touchdown in four years.

Cassel stays as Romo’s backup even though Dallas twice went without a touchdown in his four losses, which dropped his career record to 33-42. He threw three interceptions in his first start and had a critical pick-6 despite playing well in a loss to Philadelphia.

Executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones said on his radio show this week that backup quarterback was “obviously something we’re going to have to address” in the offseason.

Jones suggested the team would consider spending more after Weeden entered the season as the backup on a base salary of just $660,000.

Cody acquitted

Former Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Terrence Cody has been acquitted of the two most serious animal cruelty charges against him but found guilty of multiple misdemeanors and could receive jail time.

Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Judith C. Ensor found him not guilty Monday of two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty. Cody was convicted of five other counts related to failing to neglecting his dog Taz, which died in January. Prosecutors said the Canary mastiff had starved to death.

Ensor also found Cody guilty of illegally possessing and neglecting an alligator.

Defense attorney Joe Murtha argued during trial his client had been neglectful, but hadn’t intentionally tortured or killed Taz.

Cody, a free agent, faces more than a year of jail plus fines. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 5.

Perriman placed on IR

The Baltimore Ravens have placed top draft pick Breshad Perriman on injured reserve after a wasted season in which the wide receiver didn’t play a down.

Perriman hurt his right knee on the first day of training camp and never fully recovered. The injury was diagnosed as a sprained PCL.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome made the move Tuesday after talking with Perriman and the team’s medical staff.

Perriman was selected with the 26th overall pick out of Central Florida. He was supposed to provide Baltimore with outside speed after the team did not re-sign free agent wide receiver Torrey Smith.

Baltimore also waived defensive back Asa Jackson and cut punt returner Jeremy Ross, who fumbled a punt Sunday in a 22-20 loss to Jacksonville.

The Ravens signed the following players to the active roster: wide receiver Kaelin Clay, tight end Chase Ford and cornerback Cassius Ford.