The Cleveland Browns are 'willing to trade up' for Johnny Manziel, But Still Have No Coach

At any rate, their head coaching search makes this Manziel nugget from Jason LaCanfora of CBS last week all the more confusing:

"they are willing to trade up to land Johnny Manziel in the draft if need be"

So not only are the Browns considering drafting Manziel, but they’re willing to trade up for the Texas A&M QB?

Cleveland has no quarterback. It has no real hope right now, despite having seven picks among the first 125 selections, including two in the first round (thanks to the Trent Richardson deal). GM Michael Lombardi’s tenure so far has been pockmarked by horrible decisions. No playoff appearances since 2002. No playoff wins since 1994.

And now they’re talking about trading up for a 5-foot-11 (probably?) QB who struggled mightily against LSU’s NFL-heavy defense in two games? I know Manziel lit up Nick Saban’s Alabama teams, but he went 0-for-2 against LSU and looked especially ordinary in the 2013 meeting.

I love a good NFL draft smokesscreen, but to me, this just sounds like a GM under fire who is trying anything to get fans and the media talking about the draft, and not the head coaching vacancy. The lesson is simple: Firing your coach after one season is a bad look.