Tuesday, Aug. 25 (PM) – Discussion in training camp and the preseason about the Browns’ starting quarterback situation has included the names of only Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel.

Now another name has been added – or, as it were, re-added. It’s Brian Hoyer.

No, the Browns have not reacquired the Cleveland St. Ignatius High School product, but they are keeping a sharp eye on him nonetheless.

And, for that matter, so are the fans.

Hoyer jumped back onto the Browns’ radar on Monday when the Houston Texans named him their starting quarterback.

Hoyer helped lead the Browns to a 7-4 start last year, but, when his contract expired following the season, they made absolutely no effort to re-sign him, or really to even engage in conversation with him and his agent. He was allowed to walk. No, make that he was booted out the door.

That was a surprising move for a team that has gone through quarterbacks like water in the expansion era and has had just two winning seasons since 1999, including none since 2007. Hoyer provided hope when there had been none for a long time, so why wouldn’t the Browns, even with their eventual 7-9 finish, their best since that 2007 season, by the way, want to retain him?

There are all kinds of suppositions as to why, but in reality, that’s a question only General Manager Ray Farmer can answer.

Needing a veteran quarterback to serve as the bridge to their franchise passer, whomever and wherever he is, the Browns went hard after free agent Josh McCown in the offseason. In fact, they out-bid the Buffalo Bills to land him.

McCown has not been named the starter yet by head coach Mike Pettine, but that’s only a formality. Barring an injury in Saturday night’s dress rehearsal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which will be his last action of the preseason, McCown will be under center in the regular-season opener against the New York Jets on Sept. 13.

Meanwhile, Hoyer, who grew up rooting for the Browns, found a home with the Texans. He then beat out Ryan Mallett in an open competition for the job.

So, with both McCown and Hoyer as starters, we’ll get to see who’s better – who helps his team more.

If McCown plays well and the Browns have at least a decent season, then the club will likely avoid any serious scrutiny for its decision to pick him over Hoyer.

But if McCown flops, dragging the team down with him, while Hoyer is a big hit and rejuvenates a Houston club that has been plagued by poor quarterback play the last couple of years, then it will not be good for the Browns and, more specifically, for Farmer. It will prove that he made the wrong decision.

If Farmer is a religious man, then he might well be lighting a candle in some area church right now hoping that things work out in his favor. He could use some good vibes. He is already facing a four-game suspension at the start of the season as part of the NFL’s punishment for his involvement in Textgate last year. That’s not a good look. But then to have Hoyer and the Texans light it up while McCown and the Browns struggle would be a double-punch to his gut.

Quarterbacks, especially those in the NFL, are always under the microscope. And that will really be the case in Cleveland, and Houston, this season.