Johnny Manziel vs Brian Hoyer & Mike Pettine: First NFL Start For 'Midget' Cleveland Browns Rookie QB Against Cincinnati Bengals Sunday: Phenom To Suit Up For Last CLE Home Game

Johnny Manziel will finally start his first NFL game, taking Brian Hoyer's starting spot this Sunday against AFC North division and playoff rival Cincinnati Bengals, say reports. It comes after Manziel was called a 'Midget' by Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, and Hoyer was benched two games ago, then reinstated for last Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts which the Browns narrowly lost, 25-24. Now all that is needed is for Coach Mike Pettine to make it official.

Finally, Johnny Football will no longer be confined to Snickers commericals!

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer broke the news, saying that a source inside the Browns had confirmed that the two QBs had been told that Manziel "would be given the nod for Cleveland on Sunday against visiting Cincinnati Bengals."

Breaking: Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer have been informed that Manziel will in fact be the starter this week. #Scoopage

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 9, 2014

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, all that's left is to "wait for Browns HC Mike Pettine to make it official."

Every indication out of Cleveland is Johnny Manziel. Now we just wait for Browns HC Mike Pettine to make it official.

— Adm Schfter (@AdamSchefter) December 9, 2014

The start for Manziel -- who the Browns picked with the 22nd overall pick out of Texas A&M in this year's NFL draft -- will be in the Browns final regular season home game as they try to make the NFL playoffs. Beating the AFC North division rivals, the 8-4-1 Bengals, will go a long way to helping that become a reality. Maybe he'll be able to throw a long ball to wide reciever Josh Gordon and prove to the world that he really would've been able to "f*cking hit him," unlike Hoyer, as Vice Sports pointed out after last week's game.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that a source said to him, "Manziel will not be making any public comments Tuesday as he's focused on preparation for his first start" and that Manziel "is expected to address the media from the locker room Wednesday."

The news comes after Manziel was called a "midget" on radio by Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, who (in a stunning display of testicular fortitude) later backtracked and apologized for his comment.

Speaking to Cincinnati radio station WLW-AM, Lewis said "You gotta go defend the offense. You don't defend the player." The coach then added, "Particularly a midget," according to ESPN.

Lewis then backtracked and said, "I apologize to Johnny, the Browns and all the fans in Cleveland. It was just a poor remark. I really didn't mean anything by it."

As NBC Sports explained, after Lewis' use of the word 'midget', the subsequent apology didn't actually cover those he may have offended: those short of stature, as the Little People of America consider it a slur.

All we need now is for Drake to come out and support his buddy Manziel again, and all will be right in the world.