Five games into the season, Cleveland Browns fans may have finally realized that their team’s starting quarterback is Brian Hoyer, not Johnny Manziel.

And that Hoyer, not his backup, just might be the savior of the franchise.

After beating out Manziel for the starting job in the preseason, Hoyer has led the perennially awful Browns to a very respectable 3-2 start, including a 31-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers this past week.

Looks like that thrashing of an AFC North rival made at least some folks in Cleveland have the revelation this Hoyer fellow isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.


So, naturally, they all ran out to Dick’s Sporting Goods to purchase a No. 6 jersey in support of a guy who is actually out on the field playing, as opposed to one who remains on the sideline wearing a headset.

According to Dick’s sales data, Hoyer has the sixth bestselling NFL jersey over the past seven days, up from No. 28 last week and well ahead of Manziel at No. 11. This is the first week Hoyer, who has started all season, has topped Manziel, who has attempted one pass all season, in those rankings, the Associated Press’ Tom Withers tweeted Thursday.

Maybe Hoyer really is finally winning over the Cleveland fans.

Or maybe it’s just because most of them already have Manziel jerseys -- the hotshot rookie is still Dick’s top-seller jersey for the season (Hoyer is No. 38).


Twitter: @chewkiii