Hoge not impressed by Manziel

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel does not have a fan in ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge and said all he can do is go out and try to prove Hoge wrong.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel does not have a fan in ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge and said all he can do is go out and try to prove Hoge wrong.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Merril Hoge made his thoughts known in a big way Wednesday on Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers running back and current NFL analyst for ESPN, told Pittsburgh radio station WDVE-AM that Manziel looked lost in the preseason and "has no business being on the field" Sunday in the Browns' season opener in Pittsburgh.

Hoge said that Manziel, who was drafted 22nd overall in May's NFL Draft, has no quality that translates to being a first-round draft pick.

The former Texas A&M star was even referred to as a juvenile punk by Hoge.

Hoge called Manziel a juvenile punk because of his text to Browns quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains on draft night saying he wanted to "wreck this league."

"That didn't just burn players; it infuriates coaches," Hoge said. "It told you, too, that he's a juvenile punk. He was like that, and he's still like that."

Cleveland will start Brian Hoyer at quarterback Sunday. Manziel is the Browns' backup, which is good, Hoge said, because he isn't ready to start.

However, Manziel dismissed Hoge's criticism.

"Stuff pops up on my phone and I happened to see something," Manziel said. "He's been in the opposite corner of me for a while now, so all I can really do is go out and try to prove him wrong. He's entitled to every bit of his opinion."

Hoge isn't thinking Manziel will improve anytime soon.

"If you're the Steelers, you want him on the field," Hoge said. "You really do. Hoyer, listen, he didn't shine and he's nothing special, but he's a lot more dangerous than Johnny Manziel."

Said first-year Browns Coach Mike Pettine: "Where'd he play?"

Idaho State, coach.

Call to action

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that several Native American groups plan to send a letter today to thousands of TV and radio broadcasters in every NFL city requesting that they not use the Washington Redskins name in their broadcasts.

The National Congress of American Indians and the Oneida Indian Nation are leading the campaign of more than 100 groups. Radio ads are expected to be played this weekend in Texas, where the Redskins will open their season against the Houston Texans.

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has defended the team's nickname as a word of respect, honor and tradition. Snyder purchased the NFL franchise in 1999 and has no plans on changing the Redskins nickname.

NBC's Tony Dungy and ESPN's Lisa Salters have said they might not say "Redskins" on air. Online sites themmqb.com and grantland.com have already eliminated the name from their stories.

CBS will leave the decision up to its broadcasters.

The letter displays some of the strong language used to implore a change of stance on the issue:

"Every time the slur is promoted on the public airwaves, even in a non-critical way by a journalist, it is an endorsement of the continued use of this slur."

Earlier this year, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office stripped the team of its trademark, calling it a "government-defined racial slur."

The Redskins did not immediately respond to the Post's story. The Post still uses the Redskins nickname based on a newsroom policy that requires its reporters to use the names that institutions choose for themselves.

SPORTS QUIZ

What city is Idaho State located in?

ANSWER

Pocatello.

Sports on 09/04/2014