Browns Moving On From Johnny Manziel Train Wreck
Johnny Manziel has worn out his welcome. The diminutive quarterback has effectively killed his chances at returning to the Cleveland Browns. Now, it’s just a matter of time before the parting of ways is complete. Manziel has effectively turned his life into a train wreck.
Johnny Football is just about through. The City by the Lake has had enough, and so has the Browns organization. The new director of football operations released a statement on Tuesday that expressed the disappointment felt towards Manziel. Per ESPN, the statement essentially sealed the troubled quarterback’s doom. Sashi Brown was matter-of-fact in pointing out Manziel’s shortcomings.
“We’ve been clear about expectations for our players on the field. Johnny’s continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules. We will have no further comment at this time.”
The release stopped short of saying the Browns are done with Manziel.
The Browns do not have the salary cap space to release Manziel on February 8, the first day after the Super Bowl. Parting ways then would be the first day they could do so. The Browns will wait until the start of the new NFL year in March. The cap will increase, and the Browns will be able to part ways with Manziel. If they do so before then, Manziel will cause a $4.6 million hit against the cap.
When he was drafted, the former Heisman Trophy winner had promised that he would “wreck the league” with his skills. The only thing resembling a wreck has been his off-field issues.
Manziel started eight games for the Browns and appeared in 15. He completed 57 percent of his passes, tossed seven touchdowns, seven interceptions, and had a 74.4 rating with a 2-6 record as a starter. He fell far short of the expectations he set as a rookie.
A career that started with such promise and expectations has turned into a nightmare. A player who made the Browns trade up to acquire his talent has ended with the Browns and fans eager to see him leave.
Manziel had a rocky start to his stint with Cleveland. He was checked into rehab – for undisclosed reasons after the season – and spent 10 weeks at Caron Treatment Center outside Reading, Pennsylvania. He returned promising to keep the media hype low and stay off social media. That ended as quickly as his career.
It seemed like Manziel was fine until mid-October. Avon, Ohio, police questioned him after his girlfriend said he had hit her while driving in a car. That led to tweets and appearances on other social media that put his standing in jeopardy with the Browns.
When Josh McCown broke his collarbone, Manziel was promoted to starter and promised he would keep himself out of trouble during the team’s bye week. That promise was quickly broken, as rumors of his partying began to surface.
Things got worse when USA Today reported that Manziel was spotted in Las Vegas. His exposure on social media skyrocketed. He was seen in more clubs holding alcohol and partying.
The final straw came over the weekend. Manziel is being investigated by police in Fort Worth and Dallas for potentially assaulting his ex-girlfriend in an incident early Saturday. The police used a helicopter to search for him until he was found.
Johnny Football will leave Cleveland as one of the biggest draft disappointments in the history of the Browns organization. But, the way it’s looking, the city and the Browns are ready to part ways as soon as possible.
[Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images]
