The Johnny Manziel Era Begins Saturday in Detroit

The most-hyped college football player in history -- yes, even more so than Tim Tebow -- will make his NFL debut on Saturday night in Detroit when the Browns and Lions open the preseason against one another. The Lions are 3-point favorites. 

Manziel Should Get First-Team Reps

Alas, the fans may have to wait until the second quarter to see Johnny Football. Veteran Brian Hoyer will start the game, which isn't a surprise considering he's the incumbent and has the experience. Starting Manziel right away would create even more of a circus. New Browns coach Mike Pettine reiterated Hoyer was the No. 1 quarterback coming into training camp, and even though Manziel has been working with the first team, Hoyer has done nothing to have the starting spot taken away from him, yet.

The Browns have not yet ruled out using Manziel later in the first quarter against the Lions, to get some repetitions with the starting unit. The coaching staff is still currently constructing the plan for how each unit will handle substitutions. Pettine also reiterated he wants all starters to be named before the third preseason game, so that each unit can start the gelling process. The Browns plan to rest most of their starters during the fourth preseason game.

Teams Know Each Other

The Lions were 7-9 and third in the NFC North. The Browns were 4-12 and fourth in the AFC North. The teams met twice – a 24-6 victory for the Browns in the preseason, and a 31-17 win for the Lions in the regular season. Both games were played in Cleveland.

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