Steelers' Former Backup Quarterback Bullied Sensational Prospect Johnny Manziel Out Of The League

The Pittsburgh Steelers, like the other 31 organizations in the NFL, have had a good crop of backup quarterbacks throughout their history. The Steelers have had less turnover in the area than most, due to the tenures of Charlie Batch, Mason Rudolph and Byron Leftwich. A backup for Pittsburgh who had a significantly shorter time with the team was Brian Hoyer, who is most known for his time with the New England Patriots. 

Steelers' Backup Bullied Johnny Manziel During Time In Cleveland

Hoyer signed with the Steelers in 2012 as the backup to Batch after both Ben Roethlisberger and Leftwich were injured. Hoyer's time in Pittsburgh was short, as he was only on the roster for two games as the backup to Batch before being released. 

Following his release, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals to finish the 2012 season, and eventually signed with the Cleveland Browns prior to the start of the 2013 season. Hoyer was joined in the Cleveland quarterback room by Johnny Manziel in 2014, who was the Browns first-round pick. Manziel appeared on Club Shay Shay, where he spoke about his rise and fall and Hoyer's role in it all.

"My quarterback room was not a home for me, because of Brian Hoyer. Brian Hoyer had been waiting on an opportunity to be able to go and really provide for his family, get an opportunity and he saw how much of an upper hand he had on me. He didn't hold back when it came to that."

Up until this point in 2014, Hoyer had spent three seasons in New England as the backup to Tom Brady. He was then cut by the Patriots, and split the 2012 NFL season between the Steelers and Cardinals. Hoyer had a real opportunity to be a starting NFL quarterback in Cleveland. He tore his ACL during the 2013 season, but was named the starter over Manziel at the beginning of the 2014 season. 

Hoyer was coming back from his ACL injury in 2014, and he had a rookie in Manziel right behind him on the depth chart. Hoyer started the season well, leading the Browns to a 6-3 record. The Browns then dropped to 7-6 after a four-game stretch in which Hoyer struggled, throwing eight interceptions. Manziel would end up getting his first start in Week 15 of 2014 after Hoyer was benched. Manziel recalled more of Hoyer's actions that hindered his development in the NFL.

"There was instances in the quarterback room, early on, where I would ask the same questions a couple of times and he'd be at the head of the table and go 'pfft, again? We're doing this again?' and I don't have a bad word to say about Brian Hoyer, that is just fact about what happened in that room. And it's okay, but at that point in time of where I was and I'm the franchise guy, I could've used a little help."

In relief of Hoyer during the 2014 season, Manziel would complete 18 out of 35 passes for 175 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. He did have a rushing touchdown during his rookie season. Following 2014, Hoyer's contract with the Browns expired and he eventually signed with the Houston Texans during free agency. 

Manziel struggled in 2015, playing in only nine games, starting in six of them. He finished the season with 1,500 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions and recorded 230 rushing yards. He was released by the Browns at the start of the next league year, and never played in the NFL again. He has spent some time in the Canadian Football League and the Fan Controlled Football League since.

After winning a Heisman Trophy in college, it is safe to say Manziel's professional career didn't pan out the way he wanted it to. He had his struggles with alcohol, drugs, and partying which many blame for his downfall. However, had he had a better supporting cast around him early on in Cleveland his career could have gone differently.