Johnny Manziel’s jersey-sales ranking is falling and fellow Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer’s has been rising, as the six-year veteran surpassed Johnny football this week.
Hoyer’s number 6 Brown’s jersey now ranks sixth in jersey sales, while Manziel comes in at number eleven, according to Dick’s Sporting Goods. Sports Illustrated reported that it’s the first time that sales of Hoyer’s jersey have exceeded those of Manziel.
A former New England Patriot back-up quarterback to Tom Brady, Hoyer is having a solid season leading the Browns to an overall 3-2 record, completing 60 percent of his passes for 1,224 yards and connecting for seven touchdowns.
On Wednesday, Hoyer denied a report on Bleacherreport.com that he would not sign a long-term contract with the Browns as long as Manziel was on the roster. “It couldn’t be further from the truth,” Hoyer said. “I don’t think I need to say any more than I’m from Cleveland and this is where I want to be. But I also am a competitor, so I want to be somewhere where I’m playing.”
Before the season began many believed that by this time Manziel would be the starting quarterback. However, with the Browns in good standing in the AFC North and Hoyer leading the league in yards per completion, it is Manziel who rides the pine and Hoyer who sits in the driver’s seat.
Manziel, a former Heisman Trophy winner out of Texas A&M, has yet to complete a pass in the NFL.