CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer zipped around minicamp Tuesday like a player who never tore his anterior cruciate ligament and like one who's missed the parade of college all-star quarterbacks marching through Berea in recent weeks.

Wearing a brace on his surgically-repaired right knee, Hoyer threw in 7-on-7s with good velocity, dropped back with speed and quickness and took charge between reps, talking to receivers new and old about routes and timing.

The message was sent loud and clear to all of the Johnny Manziels and Teddy Bridgewaters and Blake Bortles that have tread on his turf recently in anticipation of the draft May 8-10: it's my team and I dare you to try to take it from me.

"I really don't hear it that much because I don't pay attention,'' Hoyer said of all the rookie quarterback talk. "It doesn't bother me. People are going to speculate. I know how I feel about myself. I know how my teammates feel. I'm trying to go out and prove it to these new coaches and all I can really ask for is a chance and I think I'll get that. I'm going out there every day and until someone tells me otherwise, I think I'm the starter for this team."

Hoyer was so determined to reclaim his starting job that he ignored the Browns' dogged offseason pursuit of Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, the Kyle Shanahan favorite who was traded to the Raiders.

"No, you can't worry about the things you can't control,'' he said. "I've learned that a long time ago, so maybe it was good I had to focus on my rehab. In hindsight, it was worthless to worry about because he's in Oakland and I'm here. To worry about things you can't control will just drive you nuts."

Hoyer was so hyped up and ready to go in practice Tuesday that he begged coach Mike Pettine to let him participate in 11-on-11 drills despite the fact he's only been cleared for 7-on -7s.

"I know it killed him not to be able to,'' said Pettine. "I had to play head coach for a minute and tell him no, but that's the way he is. That's the way he's made up, the ultimate competitor, so I think he firmly believes that it's his job.''

Pettine said the Browns are holding Hoyer out of team drills at least until the mandatory minicamp in June because of all the bodies flying around, "(but) I don't think there will be any limitations once he gets to training camp.''

Hoyer, who underwent the surgery Oct. 18, has no doubt he'll be 100% by training camp, which begins July 26th.

"I know that we don't play a game until August but I also know that in order to be the guy in August, you put the time in in the offseason,'' he said. "That's always my argument, so it's a battle and I know they have my best interests in mind but I also know how much I want to be out there with the guys."

And despite the fact Pettine made it clear Tuesday that he wants to avoid starting a rookie quarterback, Hoyer knows full well that one of them will be walking into the facility next week, shaking his hand and lining up behind him for reps.

“I’ll obviously pay attention -- not only for the quarterback situation but to see who we’re getting,'' said Hoyer. "Being a fan of the NFL my whole life, you always watch for the draft. Seeing the Draft Day movie, it just kind of gets you excited. It’s an exciting time for those young men. They’re coming into the league. They’re realizing their dream. For guys already in the league, we just want to find out who are new teammates are going to be and keep rolling along.''

And if one of those new teammates happens to be a superstar named Johnny Football, what will Hoyer do?

"(I'll) just be myself,'' he said. "I have to do what I do on a daily basis and work hard. That’s all I know what to do. I’ll be myself. I’ll continue to act the same way and go from there.”

Hoyer admitted he hasn't seen much of Manziel or the other rookie quarterbacks, and can't predict how they'll fare in the NFL.

"There are a lot of ways to get it done,'' he said. "We saw that last year with Russell Wilson. I played behind Tom (Brady). They’re completely opposite and they both won a Super Bowl. I think it really is about the fit and how you play the game. The only college football I really watched was Michigan State. I’ve seen highlights here and there, but everybody is unique. No one is the same. The way I play is different from how Tom plays, which is different from Peyton (Manning), and so on. I think if you do it the right way and go about it and work hard, it doesn’t matter what type of quarterback you are.”

Hoyer learned from Brady how to mentor a young quarterback -- by showing more than telling.

"First and foremost, my responsibility is to win games for this team,'' he said. "The best way to be a role model or a tutor is to play the best I can and show a young guy what it takes to win in this league. I was fortunate to be behind the best in that aspect. I think I’ll take that role. I’ll never not answer a question. I know there are guys that see it as a threat. You always try to help your entire team, because when it comes down to it you want your team to win.''

Hoyer admitted that after the way his career has gone -- including getting released by three teams in the year before landing here -- he never slips into a comfort zone.

"No matter what happens, if Ray Farmer calls me to his office, I’m thinking it’s over or something,'' he said. "That’s just the way I had to deal with it when it came out of nowhere in New England and other places. I always have a chip on my shoulder. I’m always trying to work hard to get better.''

But if all goes the way Hoyer plans, he'll start the opener in Pittsburgh, a fitting opponent for his comeback.

"It's pretty cool,'' he said. "It's a good way to start a new era. Obviously growing up here I know a lot about that rivalry, so I know how much it means to this organization, to this city and now having the opportunity to play for this team, I don't think there's anyone in the world who wants the Browns to win more than me and that's what I work for every day."

Try and beat that Johnny and Teddy and Blake.