Manziel has ‘imminent’ meeting with NFL

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BEREA — Johnny Manziel’s playing status for Sunday hinges on Josh McCown’s sore right shoulder and an interview.

Browns coach Mike Pettine said Wednesday that Manziel has an “imminent” meeting scheduled with NFL investigators, who are looking into whether he violated the league’s personal conduct policy.

Manziel was recently questioned by Avon, Ohio, police after he and his girlfriend were involved in a heated argument. Colleen Crowley told police that Manziel hit her and pushed her head into a car window when they quarreled. Manziel was not arrested.

Pettine would not divulge the time or place of Manziel’s meeting, but confirmed the league hopes to have its inquiry wrapped up quickly.

“There’s a sense of urgency to it,” said Pettine, who was asked if he was confident Manziel would be available for Sunday’s home game against the Arizona Cardinals.

“We’ll just wait and see,” he said. “The league has its protocol on how they handle these situations, and we’ve been ultra-cooperative to date and will continue to be.”

Manziel may have to start this week if McCown doesn’t recover in time from a right shoulder injury sustained in Sunday’s loss to St. Louis. McCown did not practice Wednesday and stood on the sideline wearing a baseball cap as Manziel took all the snaps with Cleveland’s first-team offense.

The 36-year-old McCown was sacked four times and roughed up throughout the game by the Rams’ defense. He also has sore ribs.

Pettine said McCown is “truly day to day.”

The league’s investigators spoke last week with the police officers who were at the scene of Manziel’s Oct. 12 incident. Witnesses said Crowley tried to exit Manziel’s vehicle and that he pulled her back inside. Manziel told police he and Crowley had been drinking alcohol before the incident. Police determined Manziel was not intoxicated and allowed him to drive Crowley back to the home in a golf community they share.

The NFL takes all domestic disputes seriously in light of Ray Rice’s well-documented situation last year. The league could fine, suspend or ban Manziel if it deems he violated the policy.

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, right, runs with the ball as St. Louis Rams defensive end Eugene Sims pursues during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in St. Louis. The Rams won 24-6. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/10/web1_106720485-ca3b94cf4a8a45b49feb035c3c3b0cc9.jpgCleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, right, runs with the ball as St. Louis Rams defensive end Eugene Sims pursues during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in St. Louis. The Rams won 24-6. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, left, runs with the ball during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/10/web1_106720485-4b18ce4da25040909856b450849d48a9.jpgCleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, left, runs with the ball during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

By Tom Withers

AP Sports Writer

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