Johnny Manziel Wants To Make Teams Pay For Passing Him Up

Johnny Manziel waited on Thursday night to hear his name called at the NFL draft.

And waited… and waited.

Finally, the Texas A&M quarterback heard his name called with the No. 22 pick, the second selection for the Cleveland Browns in the first round. After having been projected in the top five, Manziel’s fall was the story of the 2014 NFL draft’s first round, and the man nicknamed Johnny Football is ready to use the slights as motivation.

In an interview before the draft, Manziel said that teams will be sorry if they pass him up.

“I believe they will, personally,” Manziel said.

Draft-day slights have long been motivation for players. Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas said that after dropping to the second round, he watched tape of the NFL draft the night before every game his rookie year, remembering how each team passed him up.

Manziel could use similar motivation, but even though he fell much further than projected he landed with a good fit. Manziel seemed to have an inkling that the Browns would pick him, praising the team in pre-draft interviews.

“I really want to get to playing football, whether it’s Cleveland or (wherever) it will be,” Manziel said. “That would be a good situation. I enjoyed my time with (Browns offensive coordinator Kyle) Shanahan and coach (Mike) Pettine and everybody up there. Every visit I’ve gone on, I really enjoyed.”

After the selection, an elated Manziel said he was ready to start his tenure with the team.

“To be here feels right,” Manziel said. “Dawg Pound, here we come. I’m going to pour my heart out for this team.

“I truly believe Cleveland was supposed to be where I ended up.”

While Johnny Manziel may not have liked slipping down into the 20s, but Cleveland Browns fans are likely thrilled to have snagged him so low.