Cleveland Browns lose to Washington Redskins in second preseason game, Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel comments on his obscene gesture to Redskins fans, the Browns will play two more preseason games before the regular season begins

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

"I felt like I did a good job of holding my composure throughout the night, and you have a lapse of judgment and slip up," Johnny Manziel said of his middle finger to the Redskins in the third quarter.

By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog Kathy Wray Coleman is  a community activist and 20 year investigative journalist who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio. (www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)

LANDOVER, Maryland- The Cleveland Browns loss to the Washington Redskins Monday night 24-23 at Fed-ex Stadium in Landover, Maryland, the second of four scheduled 2014 preseason games, and where sports media pundits panned Browns quarterbacks Brian Hoyer, who started the game, as well as Johnny Manziel, a Heisman trophy winner and 2014 late -round draft pick. (Editor's Update: Manziel was subsequently fined $12,000 by the NFL for the gesture, and Hoyer was named starting quarterback).

Brian Hoyer

Head coach Mike Pettine rotated Hoyer and Manziel into the game, only to see minimal offensive production in the first half, sports critics said. The production in the second half was mediocre too, though Manziel got a dump off touch down pass to RB Dion Lewis, the first touchdown for the Browns of the preseason.

Johnny Manziel

But what caught much attention was when Manziel, 21, extended his middle finger to taunting Redskins fans in the third quarter, an action that quickly became the talk of social and other media, and for which Pettine acknowledges was unprofessional and immature. 

Manziel told reporters after Monday night's game that he simply made a mistake by flipping the bird to fans of the opposing team.

"I felt like I did a good job of holding my composure throughout the night, and you have a lapse of judgment and slip up," Manziel said.  

The next preseason game for the Browns is August 23 and against the New York Rams at First Energy Stadium in Cleveland, and on August 28 the Browns will play the Cincinnati Bears in another away game.

The Browns regular season, which last year resulted in  an embarrassing 4-12 season record and no playoffs spot,  begins with an away game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 7.  (www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)