In this Dec. 20, 2015, photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel speaks with the media . (AP Photo/Scott Eklund, File)
Just last month, the Cleveland Browns finally – I mean finally – cut Johnny Manziel.
Sometimes his greatness on the field overshadowed his issues, but let’s not forget the guy was just plain stupid sometimes.
He was arrested for disorderly conduct and having fake identification. He signed his own memorabilia and sold it while in college. That resulted in a half-game suspension and he ended up being a mess at the Manning Passing Academy his sophomore year after he, uh, overslept.
It was inevitable that the Browns would take Manziel in the first round of the 2014 draft. Many people believed the guy would go within the first couple picks. Some thought to the Houston Texans, but the Browns picking him was so Cleveland that it hurt.
Our knowledgeable friend and ESPN employee Skip Bayless said that the Texans should fire their whole staff and new head coach for not picking Manziel.
He also said, “I’ve even been wondering what the Cowboys’ record would be right now if Jerry had taken Manziel instead of Zack Martin. Better than 2-7.”
Good call, Skip.
All that aside, I’m sure all of those teams are glad they passed on him and I’m sure Cleveland regrets that, because hindsight is 20/20.
Too bad Cleveland’s vision was more like 20/200. Who couldn’t see the flags? Who couldn’t see the fact that his party life in college would carry over to the NFL where you had the freedom of a lifetime?
He was what you expected him to be. Manziel was found partying hard in Las Vegas and College Station, Texas, during his rookie year, and during a pre-season game against the Washington Redskins, he was seen flipping off the opposing team.
Manziel only played in five games his rookie year, tallying 175 yards and two passing touchdowns while playing second fiddle to Brian Hoyer. Yes, that Brian Hoyer.
His second year he was once again backup, this time to Josh McCown, and he only saw playing time once McCown got hurt in the opener against the Jets. He appeared in nine games his second year. He once again showed just how inadequate he was at being an NFL quarterback, and it had very little to do with his on-field abilities.
You could almost see the sky falling starting on Jan. 30 for the former Aggie quarterback Manziel was accused of hitting his girlfriend and threatening to kill her, and the case is going in front of a grand jury this Thursday.
Both of his agents, Erik Burkhardt and Drew Rosenhaus, terminated their contracts with Manziel, and Nike dropped their contract with him this week.
Somehow Manziel thought rooming with Josh Gordon would create a revelation inside him to stop with the booze and drugs. Josh Gordon has failed more drug tests than any human ever should.
It’s now or never for Johnny, but anyone that’s seen this unfold knows it’s probably never.
