NFL news: Around the league in 32 plays

For better or worse, it’s Johnny Football time in Cleveland. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns:  There are many in the Browns organization who feel that Johnny Manziel is still not ready to be a starting quarterback.  However, there is clearly some dissent to that as someone with some significant pull has apparently decided that Manziel will be the starter for the remainder of the year.  Another internal problem surfaced this week as wide receiver Travis Benjamin made an intriguing comment about the team needing to bring in the right pieces and staff.  Benjamin cleared up his statements to insist he was talking more generally than about specifically bringing in new staff members.

• Chiefs’ take: As I wrote this past week, the Chiefs are in position to be players for a quarterback in the 2016 NFL Draft.  If the Browns stay out of the way, that’s one less team to worry about.

Dallas Cowboys:  The Cowboys may be getting Tony Romo back after a painful absence.  Without Romo at the helm, Dallas has lost seven straight and fallen to the bottom of the NFC East.  It will be a difficult task for him to right the ship and get the Cowboys into the playoffs.  With Romo’s return, Dallas has decided to let go of Brandon Weeden.

Manning’s record setting moment was overshadowed by a poor performance, being pulled from the game, and now being listed as injured. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos:  The Broncos made a big change at quarterback this past weekend against the Chiefs when they benched Peyton Manning halfway through the game.  The team issued public statements of support for Manning, but it has now been announced that he has a foot injury that will result in his missing time…so begins the Brock Osweiler Era.  Perhaps just venting frustrations, TJ Ward accused the Chiefs of being a dirty team…which was the justification for his throwing a punch at Jeremy Maclin.  This is the third time in two weeks that a Broncos player has dismissed an egregious act as being the fault of someone else.  It’s also the second time in two weeks that TJ Ward has been caught in the act of being a dirty player, however the league has decided not to suspend him.

• Chiefs’ take: I’ve been pretty skeptical of Brock Osweiler for a while now.  In a contract year, the Broncos have no idea what he can really do.  Now they’ll be rolling with him for at least the short-term, for better or worse.  That could be huge in the playoffs…yes, the playoffs.  As for Ward…bro, you have like 0 room to accuse anyone of being dirty.  Hypocritical at best.

Detroit Lions:  The Lions have named Rod Wood as the new team president.  Wood is a longtime friend of the Ford family.

Next: Another QB shakeup in Houston