2013
Record: 4-12
Head Coach: Rob Chudzinski
Postseason: No
Division Finish: Fourth
Opening Day QB Starter: Weeden
Season-Finale QB Starter: Jason Campbell
Other QBs who started: Brian Hoyer
Other QBs who played: N/A
Leading Passer: Campbell
Noted: Weeden won the job to start the year, but was injured during a Week 2 14-6 loss at Baltimore. In a stunning turn of events, new coach Chudzinski decided to leapfrog backup Jason Campbell with third-stringer Brian Hoyer, a free-agent signing from North Olmsted who had previously been Tom Brady’s backup in New England. Hoyer led a come-from-behind 31-27 win at Minnesota and then defeated Cincinnati, 17-6, at home, to even the Browns at 2-2. Hoyer was injured early the following week, a Thursday night game against Buffalo, and, despite a rough start, Weeden led the team to a 37-24 nationally-televised win and brought the Browns to 3-2. However, that’s where the magic ended. Hoyer tore his ACL and was out for the season, and Weeden and Campbell each split time the rest of the way and combined to win just one more game. Weeden went 0-5 in his five starts, while Campbell went 1-7 in his eight starts. Chudzinski was fired shortly after losing the season finale in Pittsburgh, and GM Mike Lombardi and CEO Joe Banner were shown the door a month later. Weeden and Campbell were also jettisoned – Weeden has started one game in two seasons with Dallas, while Campbell has retired.
2014
Record: 7-9
Head Coach: Mike Pettine
Postseason: No
Division Finish: Fourth
Opening Day QB Starter: Hoyer
Season-Finale QB Starter: Connor Shaw
Other QBs who started: Johnny Manziel
Other QBs who played: N/A
Leading Passer: Hoyer
Noted: It was a bizarre year. Hoyer and first-round rookie Manziel, a Heisman Trophy winner at Texas A&M drafted 22nd overall, battled through training camp. Hoyer won the job, but media pressure to start Manziel was there from opening day and never relented despite the team’s success on the field. Hoyer rallied the Browns from a 27-3 halftime deficit in Pittsburgh in the season opener, only to lose on a last-play field goal, 30-27, and that seemed to light a spark in the hometown product and the team. Hoyer led the Browns to just their second win in a home opener since 1999 (and first since 2004), a last-second 26-24 upset win over New Orleans, and that led to a 7-4 start that had the Browns firmly in playoff contention. Hoyer also led the largest regular season road comeback in NFL history in Week 5, turning a 28-3 second quarter deficit into a 29-28 win. Hoyer wound up starting 13 games and played in 14, throwing for 3,326 yards with 12 TDs and 13 Ints. But that wasn’t enough to quiet the vultures circling the team and, following a dismal performance in a 25-24 loss to Indianapolis, Pettine made the switch to Manziel. The rookie, who had played in relief two weeks prior in a lopsided loss to Buffalo, looked overwhelmed and lost in a 30-0 home defeat to Cincinnati – a team Hoyer had beaten, 24-3, on the road on national TV just a month prior. Manziel went down to a hamstring injury during what turned out to be a 17-7 loss at Carolina. After Hoyer was injured in the game, rookie Connor Shaw was activated from the practice squad to start the season finale, a 20-10 loss at Baltimore.
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