A week after about 20 teammates said anonymously that they thought Johnny Manziel was a joke during his rookie season, two Browns players went on the record to defend the quarterback.
Linebacker Karlos Dansby and Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden told Around the NFL that Manziel can be the team's franchise quarterback.
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"I feel like he could be. He could be," Haden said. "Rookie seasons, they go however, but I think Johnny really understands what he needs to do to be successful."
The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner had his work ethic questioned by teammates, according to the ESPN report, and even coach Mike Pettine and owner Jimmy Haslam have their doubts about the only son of a Texas oil baron.
Dansby, though, believes Manziel can lead the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
"Without a doubt," Dansby said. "It's going to take a lot of sacrifices. Guys can't have egos, you've got to check 'em at the door. We've got to rally around each other and continue to fight for each other, just play lights-out football, and that's what we're going to (have to do to get there)."