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Johnny Manziel back as starter for Browns after benching

FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2015, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) plays during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Pittsburgh. A person familiar with the decision says the Browns will start quarterback Johnny Manziel this week against San Francisco. Manziel lost his starting job because of off-field behavior, but will be back in the lineup against the 49ers, said the person who spoke Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2015, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) plays during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Pittsburgh. A person familiar with the decision says the Browns will start quarterback Johnny Manziel this week against San Francisco. Manziel lost his starting job because of off-field behavior, but will be back in the lineup against the 49ers, said the person who spoke Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2015, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) plays during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Pittsburgh. A person familiar with the decision says the Browns will start quarterback Johnny Manziel this week against San Francisco. Manziel lost his starting job because of off-field behavior, but will be back in the lineup against the 49ers, said the person who spoke Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

By Associated Press 1 min read

CLEVELAND (AP) – Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is starting again after being benched for two games.

Manziel will make his fourth start this season on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, returning to the job he lost last month for off-field behavior.

Browns coach Mike Pettine is giving Manziel another chance after the second-year QB defied his coaches by partying and becoming a distraction during the team’s bye week. Manziel had been named the starter for Cleveland’s final six games on Nov. 17 only to throw away the opportunity with his escapades.

Manziel will replace Austin Davis, who started Sunday’s 37-3 embarrassing loss to Cincinnati. Davis didn’t do anything to lose his job, but not enough to hang on to it either.

Manziel passed for a career-high 372 yards in his last start on Nov. 15 in Pittsburgh.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP_NFL