Johnny Manziel’s Dad: ‘He’s A Druggie, I Hope He Goes To Jail’
Johnny Manziel’s dad says his son is a “druggie” and that he hopes he goes to jail. Paul Manziel spoke with ESPN’s Josina Anderson on Friday, and admitted his son “is a druggie and needs help.” In the interview he mentioned several failed attempts to help his son, the former quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
“It’s not a secret that he’s a druggie. I don’t know what to say other than my son is a druggie and he needs help. He just hasn’t [sought] it yet. Hopefully he doesn’t die before he comes to his senses… I hate to say it but I hope he goes to jail. I mean, that would be the best place for him. So we’ll see.”
A text was accidentally sent to the AP from Johnny Manziel’s lawyer on Friday, according to a report from Sports Illustrated. It revealed that he may have spent over $1,000 at a drug paraphernalia shop 15 hours after a hit-and-run crash earlier this week. Paul Manziel says his family has tried to help Johnny, but that he hasn’t been willing to receive the help.
Johnny Manziel's father tells ESPN: 'He's a druggie. It's not a secret that he's a druggie.' https://t.co/nqpsWcB02s
— fox8news (@fox8news) June 25, 2016
Manziel has reportedly been preparing to play football again in 2016. He’s a free agent, ever since he was released by the Cleveland Browns in March. Since his release, he has been charged with misdemeanor assault in an incident involving his ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley. Manziel’s hearing for the hit-and-run incident was held Friday. In the text, Manziel’s lawyer said he is seeking a plea deal. Fox News reports that defense attorney Bob Hinton wrote that he’s concerned, adding, “heaven help us” if the conditions are “that he has to pee in a bottle.” Paul Manziel expressed his concerns for his son in Friday’s interview.
“I had him in rehab and he escaped and the doctors let him go and that is a whole other story… We’ve done everything that we can do. Life goes on. You can’t just chase somebody that’s not willing to listen. The story is not going to change. It’s the same.”
“We’re so far past that. That was years ago. We’re so far past what everybody thinks we are past. People are ignorant. It’s just a horrible story. That’s about all there is to it.”
Johnny Manziel, often referred to as “Johnny Football,” first gained fame as a quarterback for Texas A&M University. According to Elite Daily, he went beyond all expectations of college football, winning the Heisman Trophy and gaining notoriety while a nation celebrated his incredible achievements. He then signed as a pro in 2014 and ever since, he hasn’t lived up to the expectations of fans. His time with the Browns was relatively unremarkable, and he’s been in trouble off the field numerous times. He dealt with a stint in rehab, and then CNN reported that he recently faced charges in a domestic violence case.
Fans of Johnny Manziel from back in his college days have held on to the hope that he’d rehabilitate and find the success he seems to have lost. Sadly, Manziel has been on a collision course with addiction and legal trouble instead of regaining his success on the field. With his father having given up hope after trying so hard to help him, it remains to be seen whether he can regain control. When his own dad says “I hope he goes to jail,” fans hope he’ll listen to the desperation of his concerns and reach out for help.
[Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images]
