Oh, I agree that the Cleveland media is always ready to move on to the next one and doesn't appreciate a good thing.
However, let's look at the stats as you suggest. In that 2014 season with such a good start, Hoyer ended with a 55% completion percentage in his 14 games, threw 12 TD to 13 picks, and had a 76.5 passer rating.
In his last FIVE games he played that season, he threw 2 TD and 9 interceptions.... 2 to 9.
So yes, there was pressure to switch to your first round pick, but a part of it had to have been Hoyer's extremely poor play. He's the one who opened the door--Pettine didn't even want to make the move until he had no choice. The media may have greased the wheels and started it rolling, but it was Hoyer himself who gave the cart a hefty push down the hill.
That said, I did like Hoyer. I thought he would've been a good guy to retain as a backup the following year. However, Brian wanted to be an NFL starter so he elected to leave and we made the decision to go get a guy willing to mentor in McCown.
Such is the life when you invest in a first round quarterback. It would have been similar had it been Bortles, Teddy, Carr, or Manziel. It just so happens Johnny Manziel was a horribly irresponsible draft choice.
If it had been Derek Carr that we drafted and plugged in for a struggling Hoyer those last few games, we never would have looked back, nor would we be having this woe-is-Hoyer conversation right now.