Johnny Manziel Throws First Career Touchdown Pass In Relief Of Injured Josh McCown
The NY Jets were inadvertently responsible for launching the career of Tom Brady when Mo Lewis injured then Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe back in 2001. Did history just repeat itself with Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel?
According to SB Nation, Johnny Manziel, in relief for an injured Josh McCown, immediately came in to throw his first career touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin, who streaked past Antonio Cromartie for the score.
Johnny Manziel has his first career touchdown pass: http://t.co/by57zC76DX pic.twitter.com/cs3Xo9gTSS
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 13, 2015
And what’s more, Manziel, who many Browns fans weren’t even sure would be the number two quarterback today has gone on to perform very well in the first half. So far, Johnny Football has completed 4 of 6 passes for 93 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. Manziel has also added nine yards on two carries with zero turnovers thus far.
Johnny was also a part of one of the more spectacular catches in this early 2015 NFL season when his receiver Brian Hartline caught an errant Manziel pass directly from his knees.
ONE HANDED CATCH FROM HIS KNEES: pic.twitter.com/PFlDdJHWZr
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 13, 2015
Johnny Manziel’s tumultuous rookie season had many pundits questioning whether he would ever be a successful quarterback in the NFL. Known for being the life of the party, Manziel checked himself into rehab at the end of last season, as reported by USA Today. Johnny football then apologized to Browns fans everywhere upon his release in April.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and it’s my intention to work very hard to regain everyone’s trust and respect. I understand that will take time and will only happen through what I do and not what I say,” Manziel said. “I also understand there’s a lot of curiosity about this but anyone who has a friend or family member that’s been through things like this knows it’s an ongoing process. I’m going to continue to ask folks to try to respect my privacy as I determine to what degree I am comfortable talking about a subject which I consider very personal.”
Manziel also battled elbow inflammation that caused many to doubt whether he would be ready for their opener against the NY Jets today.
And while fans have only seen him in two quarters worth of action so far, it’s apparent Johnny Manziel is a changed man, capable of leading an NFL team. And if his career path can resemble the aforementioned Tom Brady, Cleveland Browns fans are in for a heck of a ride.
[Johny Manziel photo credit: Rich Schultz / Getty Images]
