This is a myth.
Hoyer is coming off a horrible injury/recovery process while learning a brand new offense, just like Manziel. Hoyer deserves the benefit of the doubt based on his short-lived success last year. I would prefer Hoyer to look better in the games than Manziel based on his NFL experience, but they're both learning a brand new offense. I do believe Hoyer has separated himself through practices based on everything we've heard-- I don't think either QB is the answer, to be honest.
If you don't think you gain anything by starting Hoyer, then think again. You said it yourself, starting Manziel would be painful at first, well, who DOES benefit? It doesn't benefit Mike Pettine. It doesn't benefit Manziel. It doesn't benefit the Cleveland Browns. You play him when he's ready, which he's clearly not at this point.
P.S. Your high school coach sounds like an idiot. You play the players who give you the best chance to win that day.
You make it sound like Hoyer is a veteran QB that's had success in this league. He earns the benefit of the doubt? For what? Because he won three damn games in the NFL (more like two). Are you kidding me! Our standards are that bad, that a guy that wins two damn games in the NFL has earn the right to be the starter? Gimme break.
He's a career backup! The guy was cut two different times. Why? Because he's not that good.
How do you know when Manziel is ready? From practice, learning the playbook? Please.. Playing the QB is a learning process, you really think he's going to learn on the sidelines? We will never know when he's ready until we PLAY HIM.
This team is not that good, there's no harm in allowing your first round pick play, and actually learn with REAL PLAYING TIME, than sitting on the sidelines, with a clipboard, and watching Hoyer get his ass lit up. Yeah, some great learning experience that is.
There's only one obvious answer, and that's start Johnny and get over this idea Hoyer can seriously play as a starter in the NFL. He can't, he clearly is what he is, and that's a backup at best.
Only the Cleveland Browns would draft a QB in the first round, but then start a career backup as the starter instead. We're not going anywhere, It's fine if Johnny struggles. How the hell is he going to grow, without at least playing, struggling, and then learning from that?