NFL: Hoyer to start over Manziel for Browns
Brian Hoyer held off Johnny Manziel again. The Browns are still his team, for the moment. Cleveland's struggling veteran quarterback kept his job and will start Sunday against Indianapolis after first-year coach Mike Pettine decided he would be a better choice to lead down the stretch than Manziel, the superhyped rookie who gave the team a spark last week in a loss at Buffalo.
Brian Hoyer held off Johnny Manziel again. The Browns are still his team, for the moment.
Cleveland's struggling veteran quarterback kept his job and will start Sunday against Indianapolis after first-year coach Mike Pettine decided he would be a better choice to lead down the stretch than Manziel, the superhyped rookie who gave the team a spark last week in a loss at Buffalo.
Hoyer has played poorly for a month, but the Browns (7-5) will stick with him as they try to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
Pettine described the decision as "close" and "difficult" because of Hoyer's recent problems, but in the end the Browns coaching staff put more value on his experience and success this season.
Pats-Pack big draw
The Green Bay Packers' win over fellow Super Bowl contender New England at Lambeau Field was the highest-rated NFL regular-season game in almost three years.
The first matchup between Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady averaged a 17.6 rating and 32 share Sunday on CBS. The network said Wednesday that's the highest since a 17.6 for the Patriots' game at Denver on Dec. 18, 2011, when Brady and New England beat Tim Tebow's Broncos.
Spiller practices
Six weeks after breaking his collarbone, Bills running back C.J. Spiller returned to practice Wednesday in a move that opens the possibility of his being eligible to resume playing in two weeks.
Though Spiller remains on reserve/injured designated to return list, he was allowed back on the field after being activated by the Bills earlier in the day. The Bills have two weeks to determine whether to add Spiller to the active roster before they play at Oakland on Dec. 21 or place him on season-ending injured reserve.
Spiller has been out since being hurt in the second quarter of a 17-16 win against Minnesota on Oct. 19.
No, Canada
The Bills are done playing regular-season "home" games in Toronto's Rogers Centre after reaching an agreement with Canadian-based communications giant Rogers Communications to terminate the four remaining years left on the series.