Cleveland Browns Rumors: Johnny Manziel Making Strides, But Far From The Starting Job
The Cleveland Browns are impressed with the progress Johnny Manziel has made, but rumors around the team suggest that last year’s first round pick isn’t close to taking over the starting job just yet.
Manziel came to the Browns last year amid a cloud of hype. The No. 22 overall pick was expected to compete with Brian Hoyer for the starting position, and many thought the explosive, play-making ability that made him a Heisman Trophy winner at Texas A&M would result in a successful transition to the NFL.
It didn’t play out that way, however. Manziel didn’t come close to the starting job, and in his few chances on the field, he looked inconsistent. There were rumors that Manziel didn’t take his job seriously, culminating in a benching for his final game of the season after he was late for a treatment session the morning after throwing a party. Not long after the season ended, Manziel checked himself into rehab.
Things have gone much better since then. Manziel appeared to make strides during the team’s offseason, and the team’s management has praised his approach since leaving rehab.
“I think we’re pleased that Johnny did do the things he should do in the offseason and it was a great improvement over his first year but anything less would’ve been totally unacceptable,” said owner Jimmy Haslam. “So he’s working hard, but to play pro football, you have to be a pro, particularly when you play the position he does, so he’s got to work hard every day on and off the field. He’s making progress but he’s got a long way to go. But we’re obviously pleased with the offseason.”
But rumors suggest that the Cleveland Browns aren’t close to making Johnny Manziel a starter yet.
Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto reported the details.
“Manziel’s well-documented problems on and off the field have relegated him to being mostly a curiosity for the local fans and media. The national attention is gone. After most practices, there is a question or two about Manziel — but nothing like a year ago. Objective eyes can see that he still is not ready to start in the NFL, that the team functions much better with [Josh] McCown in practice.”
It appears that if Johnny Manziel is going to take over the starting job for the Cleveland Browns, the team is going to make him earn it on the field. But if he fails, the team may not have any qualms getting rid of him. There were rampant rumors that he was on the trade block last offseason, and the Browns have proved with Brandon Weedon that they have no problem jettisoning first-round quarterbacks if they fail to perform.
[Image via Getty Images]
