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BEREA, Ohio -- Johnny Manziel will start Clevelands exhibition opener on the sideline. Browns coach Mike Pettine chose Brian Hoyer as the starting quarterback for Saturdays game in Detroit, giving the veteran the first chance to impress before Manziel takes the field. Pettine said the decision to start Hoyer over Manziel was based on the veterans performance so far in training camp. "That was his job," Pettine said. "He was the one coming into it. We did want to mix the groups up coming into it, as we did, but hes done nothing to have that taken away from him, so hell be out there with the starters." Manziel has steadily improved, closing the gap on Hoyer in recent days as the rookie becomes more comfortable with the Browns playbook and offence. The former Heisman Trophy winner took his first practice snaps with the first-team offence earlier this week and he could get some playing time with Clevelands starters against the Lions. Manziel said the Xs and Os arent as jumbled in his mind as they were even a few days ago. "You just get out there with a lot less clutter," he said. "Were in to a couple weeks now, and it feels a lot more comfortable for me. Theres still a long ways to go for me obviously, and like I said a week ago, I felt like if I kept working on this stuff and got more and more familiar with a certain play call, a certain formation, a certain concept, then in due time I would get better at certain concepts and theres still a lot more for me to go." The competition between Hoyer and Manziel appears to have tightened, and Pettine said both QBs have made progress during the first two weeks of camp. "Theyve both made improvement, and I think theyre both doing a great job of playing to their skill sets," Pettine said. "Its obviously very different, what they bring to the table. I think Brians starting to feel very comfortable in the pocket." As he works toward naming a starter for the Sept. 7 opener at Pittsburgh, Pettine said more weight will be placed on how Hoyer and Manziel do in the first two preseason games. Pettine would like to have the QB competition -- and all positional battles -- decided before the third exhibition. "Thats the plan," he said. "Ive always been a part of, and more than likely will be here, resting most of the guys in the fourth game, so that third game is critical to get that chemistry and cohesion. Weve mixed the lineups a lot, which is good because youre getting guys exposure. Theyre in with the twos. Theyre in with the ones. Theyre going against the ones, going against the twos. At some point, youve got to settle down and develop that chemistry, that cohesion." Hoyer got a jolt on Tuesday when his surgically repaired right knee got hit during practice. Hoyer said linebacker Paul Kruger banged into his knee but that it held up fine. "It was more scary than anything else," he said. "I kind of went down and waited for there to be some pain and there wasnt, so it was actually kind of good to have some confidence going into Saturday knowing Ive actually taken a hit and the brace withstood the hit and the brace felt good. "I was scared for about two seconds and realized there was no pain and got up and went on to the next play." Hoyer hasnt considered taking a day off to rest his knee. "I cant afford it," he said. "Thats what were here for is to play football. I really dont think I need it. I feel fine." At least outwardly, Hoyer isnt showing any fear of Manziel gaining on him. The six-year veteran remains focused on getting better, leading his teammates and earning the trust of his coaches. Hes been prepared, meticulous and unshaken despite having the popular Manziel breathing down his neck. Hoyer knows he needs to play well, but hes not feeling any more pressure than hes already putting on himself. "The way I look at it is I feel like Im the starter until someone tells me otherwise and thats how I prepare," he said. "Even if I werent, Id prepare to be prepared regardless of the situation. You never know when your name is going to get called. Thats how my whole career has been. You kind of have to approach it the same way." NOTES: Browns Pro Bowl TE Jordan Cameron remains sidelined with a shoulder injury and will not play this weekend. ... As he awaits word from the NFL on his appeal of a possible suspension, WR Josh Gordon will be mixed in with the starter and backups vs. the Lions. ... S Tashaun Gipson returned to practice after being out with a sprained knee and is expected to play. Cheap Blue Jays Jerseys China .Johnny there, who knew he had that speed? teammate Tommy Wingels said.Scott and Matt Irwin were unlikely goal-scorers Tuesday night as the previously stingy San Jose Sharks finally sprung a leak or two, blowing a pair of three-goal leads before coming away with a 6-5 shootout victory over the Washington Capitals. Cheap Joe Carter Jersey . -- The Windsor Spitfires were left with just one goaltender Tuesday after having their starter walk out on them midway through Game 3 of their Ontario Hockey League playoff matchup with the London Knights. http://www.cheapbluejaysjerseys.com/ . -- Coyotes coach Dave Tippett thinks of one thing when he watches Eastern Conference teams struggle against Western opponents before they get to Phoenix: His team must keep pace. Cheap George Bell Jersey .Those stars, most notably the top line of James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel, struggled against the Montreal Canadiens and must be better as the Leafs look ahead to facing the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers this weekend. Cheap Jack Morris Jersey . -- Aaron Rodgers looked fine on the practice field Thursday.Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Monta Ellis led six Mavericks in double figures with 20 points and Dallas smoked the Washington Wizards 114-87 on Tuesday. Chandler Parsons, Charlie Villanueva and Richard Jefferson all scored 14 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 13 for Dallas, which completed a 3-0 homestand. The Mavericks, who own the leagues best offense, have scored at least 102 points in five straight games. John Wall came back to Earth with 11 points and eight assists -- a good game but average by his recent standards -- as Washingtons three-game win streak came to a screeching halt. Wall finished December with 10 double-doubles in 16 games, and the Wizards end the month with a 12-4 record. They just beat us - in every phase of the game they were better than us tonight, and turnovers obviously being the biggest part - 33 to 6 in points off turnovers, Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. Dallas led by as many as seven in the first quarter, but Walls running bank shot cut the margin to 27-24 after one. Despite a 6-0 run being Dallas largest spurt of the second, it built an 18- point lead thanks to thhe hot shooting of Ellis and Jefferson.dddddddddddd The duo combined for 21 points -- matching Washington -- in the stanza on 8-for-9 shooting. Dallas made 13-for-20 attempts as a team and led 63-45 at halftime. The Mavericks outscored Washington in each of the last two quarters as well to complete the rout. We made a point of getting out of the locker room early to make sure we could go out and get ourselves loose and get ready to go, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. Third quarters are big, especially when you have a lead - you want to continue the momentum. The guys did a good job there. Washington was tired. They had an emotional win last night, so we took advantage of that. This is a quality win for us and weve just got to keep building on it. Game Notes Mavericks center Tyson Chandler returned from back spasms and grabbed a game- high 12 rebounds ... All 13 active Mavericks scored at least two points ... Washington had won four straight away from home ... Wizards wing Martell Webster made his season debut and scored three points on 0-of-4 shooting in 14 minutes. 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