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Tag: Johnny Manziel

  • Johnny Manziel Seeks To Join New NFL Team, Hires Super Agent Drew Rosenhaus

    Johnny Manziel Seeks To Join New NFL Team, Hires Super Agent Drew Rosenhaus

    NFL star Johnny Manziel reportedly hired high profile agent Drew Rosenhaus in his effort to find another team to join before the Browns completely cut him from the lineup.

    The Browns waived the former quarterback after two seasons filled with scandal and controversy. Manziel has been in the headlines ever since he reportedly hit his now ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley on January 30. He has also been spotted at night clubs numerous times while his domestic violence case went to a grand jury. As a result, his former agent Erik Burkhardt, cut ties with him on February 5.

    “It has become painfully obvious that (Manziel’s) future rests solely in his own hands,” Burkhardt reportedly said in a statement. “His family and I have gone to great lengths to outline the steps we feel he must take to get his life in order. Accountability is the foundation of any relationship, and without it, the function of my work is counterproductive.”

    Manziel’s domestic violence case is only one of the many reasons the Browns team is letting him go. Now, Manziel is putting his NFL career in the hands of Rosenhaus. The “super agent” has reportedly asked for more than $1 billion worth of NFL contracts.

    Rosenhaus has represented many famous personalities such as wide receiver Antonio Brown, Chad Johnson, and Terrell Owens. He also handles New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

    Johnny Manziel was drafted by the Browns in 2014 but was sent to rehab for his destructive lifestyle. He returned as quarterback for the Browns in 2015. His family reportedly asked the troubled NFL star to go back to rehab earlier this year because they feared for Manziel’s future.

    However, Johnny Manziel seemed unfazed by his legal troubles. The athlete was recently spotted leaving The Nice Guy bar in West Hollywood with three women.

  • Johnny Manziel Spotted Incognito At Miami Strip Club Amid Domestic Violence Case Against him

    Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was recently spotted at a strip club while facing legal troubles.

    Manziel, who is currently embroiled in a domestic violence case, was reportedly seen at King of Diamonds in Miami on Monday night. A video recording of his recent outing, obtained by Barstool Sports, showed the NFL star enjoying the night with some friends, flashing his chains, and singing for the camera before throwing away dollar bills at the nude female dancers.

    The circulating footage containing his recent late night misadventure does not seem to bother the football player. On Sunday, he was also seen drinking at Story nightclub in Miami.

    Johnny Manziel Parties in Miami Nightclub

    TMZ Sports obtained a video of Manziel drinking straight from what looks like a champagne bottle. The embattled athlete tried to conceal his identity with a black hat and shades.

    Hours before he went to the club, authorities announced that his domestic violence case is now in the hands of the grand jury, which will rule if charges will be filed against him. His now ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, accused him of beating her up after a night of drinking and partying on January 30. Crowley claimed in her affidavit that she almost lost her hearing when Johnny Manziel attacked her and said the athlete threatened to kill her and himself.

    It was not the first time that Manziel tried to disguise himself during his late-night outing. He reportedly sported a blond wig and fake mustache and went under the alias Billy Manziel when he and some of his friends went to Las Vegas in January.

    With the ongoing investigation on his case, Cleveland is reportedly letting go of Johnny Manziel. He may no longer play for the team when the new NFL year starts on March 9.

    “That behavior will not be tolerated as we move forward,” head coach Hue Jackson recently said. “Our organization is going to take a stand.”

  • Johnny Manziel Beat His Girlfriend So Badly She Almost Went Deaf, Says Affidavit

    Colleen Crowley, the ex-girlfriend of Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has given a detailed account of what happened on the night Manziel reportedly beat her up.

    The affidavit, which was posted online by NBC 5, Crowley stated Manziel hit her so hard that she almost lost her hearing. Crowley’s attorney Kathy Kinser said her client’s ruptured eardrum is yet to heal.

    The affidavit stated that she and Johnny Manziel had an argument in his hotel room after a night of partying on January 29. Crowley confronted and accused the quarterback of being with a girl who had caused them problems in the past. When she said she would sleep in the couch, Manziel threw her on the bed. She tried to leave but the athlete “restrained her” from opening his room door. She was then led downstairs to the valet to get his car and was thrown into the passenger seat while he drove. She even begged the valet to help her, but her pleas were ignored.

    When she tried to jump out of the car, the 23-year-old quarterback hit her on the ear and dragged her back inside the vehicle.

    At one point, Crowley thought Manziel was high on drugs or having a psychotic episode so she tried to calm him down and talked to him nicely. Johnny Manziel started laughing and threatened to “kill us[them] both.” When she begged her ex-boyfriend not to kill her, he allegedly said that she does not deserve to die and that he will only kill himself.

    In the affidavit, Crowley also described what happened when they came to her apartment. She said that she was so afraid that she “pulled a knife out of the knife block and advanced toward him.”

    Colleen Crowley’s affidavit is part of proceedings to obtain a protective order against Johnny Manziel, who is currently under criminal investigation on allegations of domestic violence.

  • Johnny Manziel Addresses Last Weekend’s Fight

    Johnny Manziel finally addressed last Saturday’s incident, which involved a Browns fan getting into an altercation with the quarterback and members of his crew in the lobby of Manziel’s condo building.

    Maziel told reporters today from the Browns’ locker room that the man, Chris Gonos from Ohio, was “very intoxicated” and “very aggressive.” The former Heisman Trophy winner also contended that Gonos, “came at me, put his hands on me, was extremely aggressive.”

    “It was a very unfortunate situation, a situation that was tried to be averted at all costs, and one that [I] was unfortunately not able to really get away from,” Manziel said. “I let [the Browns] know what really happened and wanted them to be on top of it from the very get-go. I’m very thankful for the Browns having my back in all this and at the same time supporting me on a situation that seemed to be a little blown out of proportion.”

    According to the police report filed by Gonos, the incident in question occurred around 2:30 am last Saturday when Gonos realized that Manziel was at the apartment complex located in downtown Cleveland. Gonos approached Manziel and said, “I’m the biggest Browns fan ever, I love you, I want to give you a hug.” Gonos also claimed that he was then punched in the face by someone from Manziel’s entourage. The situation then turned into a fight. Gonos also reported that Manziel hit his brother, who subsequently tackled Manziel.

    According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Manziel did not say whether he took or threw a punch. Manziel’s face did not appear to show any signs that he was hit, which contradicts the report filed by Gonos. No arrests were made following the incident, and Manziel was never questioned by police.

    Manziel is currently the backup quarterback to Brian Hoyer. The Browns are a respectable 7 – 4, however, they are in fourth place in a very competitive AFC Northern Division. They will face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in Buffalo.

    Cleveland’s head coach Mike Pettine stated that Manziel’s incident last weekend would not factor into his standing with the organization.

  • Johnny Manziel: Hoyer Has Fans Asking #JohnnyWho

    Johnny Manziel is already among greats. Steve Young and Aaron Rodgers were two of the most dominant quarterbacks of the past thirty years and both had to wait in line to get their chance to start every Sunday in the NFL. That’s because they were both playing behind Hall of Fame talent in Joe Montana and Brett Favre.

    Brian Hoyer may not be Joe Montana, but he does have Cleveland fans asking #JohnnyWho on Twitter. Hoyer has been better than advertised for the Browns. He is on pace to toss 22 touchdowns and throw for 4,000 yards. The team is a respectable 3-2, and Hoyer’s jersey sales currently rank fifth in the NFL.

    There was a quarterback controversy in the offseason on whether Hoyer or Manziel would start for the Browns. When Hoyer won the job, most just figured that it would be a matter of time before Manziel eventually took over the gig. But Hoyer is proving to be a winner. Now with Hoyer’s contract up at the end of the season, many are left to wonder if the team plans to resign the man who has gone 6-2 as a starter for a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2002.

    Meanwhile, Johnny Manziel is biding his time. If something should happen to Hoyer, Manziel says he is ready for action. “I feel a lot more confident and a lot more comfortable. The whole process of being under center a lot more, everything that’s involved in this offense, that just wasn’t anything that I was asked to do at (Texas) A&M. I knew it would take some time.”

    Manziel has to watch fellow rookies Blake Bortles (Jacksonville) and Derek Carr (Oakland) get to start every week. However, the former Heisman Trophy winner believes that his role as a backup will be advantageous in the long term. “For me to get to sit back and watch this for however long this may be, I think it’s beneficial,” Manziel said.

    How long Manziel remains a backup is more unknown than ever. And if the Browns do choose to resign Hoyer in the offseason, what will it mean for Manziel’s future?

    Of course, the offseason is a long way off, and a thousand things can happen in the NFL even on a week-to-week basis. For now we know that Hoyer will start on Sunday against a winless Jaguars team in Jacksonville. What happens after that is anyone’s guess.

  • Johnny Manziel: Is The Backlash Fair?

    Johnny Manziel: Is The Backlash Fair?

    Johnny “Football” Manziel’s recent behavior has been a gift to every football fan who simply can’t stand the Cleveland Browns quarterback.

    His decision to party in Las Vegas was a point of major contention over the summer.

    Despite his age and the fact that it the NFL offseason was in full swing, certain observers held an indignant stance regarding Manziel’s trip to Sin City.

    The criticism was such that Manziel felt the need to share his playbook on social media in an effort to demonstrate his ability to multitask.

    Unfortunately for Johnny Football, the flames were fanned yet again on Monday.

    The truth of the matter is that he really has no one else to blame for the new round of haterade but himself.

    Late in the third quarter of Monday night’s game versus the Washington Redskins, Manziel raised his middle finger in the direction of his opponents.

    The tense match would end with the Browns falling short in a 24-23 loss.

    Here’s the thing: The quarterback is supposed to be the leader on the field.

    The quarterback sets the tone for the game and the other players often follow. A rookie quarterback is rarely a natural leader. However with the entire NFL and its fans breathing down his neck, a new and highly scrutinized quarterback cannot afford such a “lapse in judgement”.

    That was the description used by Manziel to describe his behavior.

    It’s a hard lesson to learn, but Manziel must realize that this is a professional league that is watched around the world.

    Even though the words exchanged are often of the R-rated variety, the audience rarely ever hears what is said.

    A hand gesture? Yeah, that has staying power.

    It is something that is broadcast on television, will hit the front pages of newspapers, and will circulate throughout social media.

    A moment like that, if Manziel does not step up his game on the field, could end up as the ONLY proof of his presence in the National Football League.

    As such, Manziel must put the criticism of his behavior on the back burner. It’s a fair enough assessment that he behaved poorly.

    With the regular season quickly approaching, Manziel is going to have to roll with the punches (and sacks).

    He’s going to have to get up, dust himself off, and accept that scrutiny is inevitable. He is not expected to be perfect, but he is expected to be a better man that he showed himself to be on Monday.

    If Johnny Football begins to play as well as his supporters believe he is capable of, his “lapse” will be forgiven and forgotten.

  • Colt McCoy to Face Former Team Monday Night

    ESPN’s Monday Night Preseason Football game tonight will feature two teams historically not in the national limelight (at least not for the right reasons) – the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Browns. However, recent acquisitions made by both teams have brought much needed intrigue to both squads. The Browns have found a renewed vigor through their drafting of Johnny Manziel, former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from Texas A&M. On the other-hand, the Redskins find themselves hoping to recapture the spirit that led them to the playoffs in 2012 while being led by rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. RG3 set rookie records during his first year in the NFL, but an injury late in his first season negatively impacted his performance in his sophomore stint, leading many to question his abilities. With the Redskins hiring offensive guru Jay Gruden from the Cincinnati Bengals, however, things may be on their way up for the Redskins.

    With Monday still being preseason football, however, it will be a story of back-up quarterbacks and second and third string players fighting to preserve a spot on the 53 man roster. Perhaps no one will be more excited to write that story than former Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.

    McCoy was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 85th pick in the 2010 NFL draft. During his college days at the University of Texas, McCoy earned quite a reputation for himself by essentially breaking all of the university’s quarterback and offensive player records while also amassing the second-highest winning total for any quarterback in NCAA Division 1 history. McCoy’s collegiate success would not translate into NFL success, however, as McCoy would lead Cleveland to a 6-15 record in his 21 starts and would soon find himself without a starting position.

    Now, McCoy finds himself as a back-up to RG3, one of the most hyped quarterbacks of all time. His current position, along with his weak past history as an NFL quarterback, led Chris Cooley, ESPN 980 host and Washington radio analyst, to state, “We signed Colt McCoy for one reason: To be the backup quarterback for the Washington Redskins for an extended period of time behind Robert Griffin III.”

    McCoy most likely knows that a majority of people share the same sentiment as Cooley. After all, McCoy had his chance and washed-up. Despite that realization, however, McCoy continues to chug along, indifferent to others’ opinions of his NFL fate: “I’m playing well and just want to go out there and compete, do my best with the reps that I get and help the guys around me play their best. You never know what will happen.”

    McCoy’s “you never know what will happen” resulted in him leading Washington to a victory in its first preseason game against the New England Patriots, with McCoy completing eight of nine passes for 102 yards, a touchdown, and a quarterback rating of 150.9.

    With Robert Griffin III proving to be injury-prone, and with the second-string quarterback being none-other than Kirk Cousins, McCoy could find himself in the starting quarterback position, and redemption-land, sooner than later.

    Image via Facebook

  • Johnny Manziel Visits Youngsters; Struggles in OTAs

    On Wednesday, Cleveland Browns backup quarterback, former Heisman Trophy winner, and media juggernaut Johnny Manziel ventured into a different arena – an elementary school.

    Manziel and other first-year Browns players kicked-off the team’s new charity program, First and Ten, at Grindstone Elementary in Berea, Ohio yesterday. The aim of the program is to get every Browns employee, player, and fan to volunteer their services at an organization for at least 10 hours per year. By making such a small contribution on a wide-scale, the Browns are hoping to drastically impact the Cleveland community.

    “First and Ten will strengthen our community involvement in Northeast Ohio and around the country, uniting our team and tremendous fans through volunteerism. Browns fans are passionate, loyal and supportive, and those traits will further allow us to positively influence our respective communities with this unique initiative,”stated Browns owner Dee Haslam.

    While the aim of the First and Ten program visiting Grindstone Elementary was most likely to recruit volunteers to their mission, all of the attention was on Johnny Football.

    As Manziel walked into the school’s gymnasium, the students burst into a raucous frenzy, screaming out for Manziel and rubbing their fingers together in Manziel’s famous money gesture. While one may have expected Manziel to be put-off by the outpour of attention from so many people at once, he has gotten used to the attention: “I don’t think much catches me off guard anymore. It was warm and very welcome and I’m very grateful they gave me an ovation.”

    Unfortunately for Manziel, he received anything but an ovation following the Browns third series of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Tuesday.

    Running the first-team offense, Manziel managed to commit three turnovers – all by interception – during skill drills and full-squad scrimmage. While many may be disparaged concerning Manziel’s lack of improvement thus far, Browns coach Mike Pettine has yet to come to any conclusion.

    “It’s difficult when he’s got the red (non-contact jersey) on and the defensive guys know they can’t tackle him. It’s hard to get glimpses of that, but we did some designed rollouts with him, and he’s shown when he can get in the open field he can run through an angle and he can eat up some ground pretty quickly.”

    Manziel’s best play of the OTAs came on a roll-out to the right, with Manziel firing back across the field to hit tight-end Jordan Cameron who was covered by two defenders – one of which was the nose tackle.

    “The first thing I wondered was what the hell coverage we were we in. I think he just sensed the play coming because we’ve been burned on it a couple times in practice, so he just latched on to him and started running. It was actually pretty funny,” recalled Pettine.

    For some Browns fans, however, it doesn’t matter how well Manziel does in pre-season scrimmages as they have already cast their ballot for quarterback.

    Manziel has a little over three months to change such sentiments before the 2014-15 NFL season begins.

    Image via Twitter

  • Johnny Manziel Enjoyed Vegas, But Not Criticism

    Johnny Manziel is a divisive topic for many, even though the NFL rookie has yet to throw the ball once in his first game.

    It seems that he’s behaving like a football star even though he hasn’t earned the right yet.

    This is a large part of the reason Johnny Football found himself under a great deal of scrutiny over a recent trip to Sin City.

    Manziel and some close friends partied it up in Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend. Though the former Texas A&M quarterback didn’t see anything wrong with the trip, others took it as a sign he didn’t take the sport seriously.

    The indignant 21-year-old fired back with an Instagram photo of his Cleveland Browns playbook.

    Manziel insisted it was possible to both be a responsible football player and to enjoy himself at the same time.

    Hooray for multitasking!

    While some might not have been happy with Johnny Football’s Vegas vacation, there are others that were more than thrilled by his trip.

    One Las Vegas executive, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Manziel’s appearances around town were worth millions of dollars in publicity.

    “It was great for Vegas,” said the anonymous executive, “Look at how much media surrounded him since he came to town. He’s been all over ESPN and social media for three days.”

    The source gushed to the Review-Journal that Manziel was “definitely..more famous” than he initially thought and described the young quarterback as a “showman”. The exec added, “People love to follow that kind of guy. He’s Johnny Football…and he’s a nice guy.”

    Manziel introduced himself to the exec and even added his phone number to the thrilled individual’s list of contacts.

    The action suggest that despite what any negative things anyone had to say about his trip, Johnny Manziel will be returning to Las Vegas at some point.

    Image via YouTube

  • Johnny Manziel: Social Media Not Impressed By Him

    Cleveland Browns fans certainly are in the midst of “Mazielmania” following the young quarterback’s selection in the first round.

    NFL pundits are also unarguably impressed with Manziel. Much of the Draft Day discussion prior to his selection was about “Johnny Football”.

    This served to annoy non-“Johnny Football” fans or just fans of football in general who weren’t interested in the hype.

    If you happened to be anywhere near social media on the night of the first draft, the reaction to Manziel leading up to his drafting (and after) wasn’t pretty.

    The longer Manziel had to wait to be picked, the crueler the jokes got. It was clear that many people were not as impressed with the 21-year-old as you’d expect.

    I mean, he did win the Heisman Trophy. He was even the first college freshman in history to do so! Still…haters gonna hate.

    In the end, Manziel fell outside of the top 20 draft picks (some were aghast when he fell outside of the top 10) and wound up at the Browns.

    It’s anyone’s guess if the young quarterback help turn things around for one of the worst franchises in the sport.

    What I do know is that social media can be a hilarious place on Draft Day when people aren’t impressed.

    Why exactly were so many people mean about Manziel? I have a few theories.

    First there was the endless pundit praise and absolute obsession the commentators had with him being drafted. He was almost literally the ONLY draft pick that was discussed until he was picked.

    It’s as if they didn’t realize that some fans might be concerned with drafted positions that weren’t quarterbacks. Or they didn’t realize that some people either didn’t like or care about “Johnny Football” as much as they did.

    Then there is the resentment this causes. For a guy so hyped by so-called Draft Day experts, it seemed logical to expect him to be snapped up early.

    The failure of this to happen seem to exposure the fact that he was over-hyped in the minds of many. Why should football fans have one unproven player rammed down their throats?

    Finally there’s his destination: Cleveland, Ohio.

    At one point Dallas, Texas looked like a better and more logical destination.

    Despite the decision to make Romo a franchise quarterback, it’s not like he’s led the team anywhere significant. Since the 1990s, the Cowboys haven’t exactly been the team it once was. Still, at least the Cowboys can say it has a winning history.

    The Browns? Their last playoff appearance was in 2002. And don’t ask about their trophy room…

    Maybe Manziel will view this as a foot in the door. After all, if he’s impressive even if his team is not, he may find himself moving onward and upward to a better team.

    He may even win back the respect of some of the very same social media users who were doubting him.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Cleveland Browns Bringing In Vince Young To Tryout

    As the National Football League draft of 2014 rapidly approaches, the Cleveland Browns are scouring the league for possible quarterbacks, even as Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel remains a possibility for the holder of the fourth pick in the draft.

    Among the players the Browns are bringing in for upcoming minicamps are former top-three draft pick Vince Young and NFL journeyman Tyler Thigpen, Yahoo! Sports Shutdown Corner is reporting.

    Young, drafted in 2006 by the Tennessee Titans, has a 31-19 win-loss record as an NFL starter, though the last game he threw a pass in was Week 13 of the 2011 season, when he was quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles. He threw four interceptions that day in a 31-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

    “Our interest in Vince is that he’s been productive and he’s had success in the National Football League,” Cleveland Browns General Manager Ray Farmer said at a pre-draft news conference, reported by the Christian Science Monitor. “We wanted to take the opportunity to get a chance to see where he was. We’ve been kind of following him through the offseason and he had been doing some things that kind of caught our eye and made us kind of take note and we wanted to see what that looked like in his own time frame.”

    The current quarterback slated as the starter for the Browns this upcoming season is Brian Hoyer, who is coming off knee surgery. A significant appeal to both Young and Thigpen is that they are both mobile quarterbacks, a key quality in new coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

    “They both are very good athletes,” Farmer said. “They both have had relative success — I know Vince you would easily say probably more than Tyler. That’s a good piece. I think Kyle would tell you that he likes a quarterback that is mobile. The offense definitely is going to require the quarterback to do different things, play outside the pocket to some degree.”

    But everything might change on draft day if the Browns have the opportunity to draft Johnny Manziel, who, as the USA Today puts it, is the “enigma of NFL draft quarterbacks.”

    If there are reservations, Farmer isn’t revealing any. When asked about the possibility of drafting Manziel, Farmer said, “The question is, do I get a chance to take him?

    “I don’t think I have any reservations with who Johnny is. We had a lot of conversations, spent a lot of time with him. He’s a good young man.”

    Image via Facebook

  • ‘Draft Day’: Drake’s Still The Man Five Years Later

    No, it wasn’t just some April Fool’s joke—Drake’s new song “Draft Day” is the real thing. In the single, the Canadian rapper shows off his knowledge of pop culture and current events, even though he claims he doesn’t read the news because “it’s garbage.” He also name drops a variety of celebrities, including Jennifer Lawrence: “I mean for real, girl you know I had to do it for yah.” Sweet.

    The song pays homage to Texas A&M star quarterback Johnny Manziel, whom Drake mentions in the first line. The title, of course, is a dead giveaway: the player just had his pro day workout, during which some loud hip-hop tracks by none other than Drake were played, to the disapproval of some folks. Drake’s music isn’t known for its G-rating, and the new track exhibits the same NSFW language many rappers seem to live by.

    Could the new song be Drake’s way of thanking the football player for the added publicity? Perhaps, but few are aware that the two are also fast friends. Drake was one of the people the quarterback was seen hanging out with during his controversial 2012 offseason.

    Manziel’s party-filled lifestyle has caught the attention of NFL teams and he has been criticized time and again for his lifestyle. Drake’s shoutout to him on “Draft Day” may just cause another uproar—or amusement. According to CBS Sports, Manziel had nothing to do with the actual production of the song.

    Aside from his buddy Manziel, “Draft Day” also mentions basketball prodigy Andrew Wiggins (as “A. Wiggins”), who had announced Monday that he would be entering this year’s NBA draft. The other sports personalities that made it to the song (not in a good way, however) are former MLB slugger Jose Canseco and the Oakland A’s.

    Drake also raps that if he had left things to chance he would have “picked a name like Chance the Rapper” (no offense, Chance, but Drake says he doesn’t really know you). According to Drake, he is “focused on making records and gettin’ bigger—just hits, no misses, that’s for the married folks.” While there’s plenty of married folks out there who may be offended, relax. The rapper may just be taking a shot at his fellow contemporaries—Jay-Z or Kanye, perhaps?

    Here’s something that’s nice to know: if this were the Hunger Games, Drake says “I would die for my district.” What say you, Katniss?

    Drake: ‘Draft Day’ (Explicit)

    Image via YouTube

  • Johnny Manziel Made A New England Visit

    With the NFL draft looming ahead, and mock drafts constantly being made, every move a draft pick makes is being watched. The guy most people are watching is Johnny Football himself, Johnny Manziel.

    Manziel made a visit to Foxboro on Wednesday. The former Texas A&M quarterback was in town to visit with the New England Patriots.

    While the Patriots won’t be making their first pick until No. 29, there is a possibility they might trade up to get Manziel. But that’s an unlikely possibility since the Patriots already have backup Ryan Mallett, who’s in the last year of his deal.

    And would Maziel really want to go to a team where it could be years before he sees significant playing time? Because God only knows when Tom Brady will hang up his helmet and call it a day. (His contract is up in 2017, but he may feel like sticking around longer or leaving before he jumps the shark.)

    If the Patriots were to draft Manziel, he would complement Brady’s game with his speed.

    Brady is no stranger to Manziel. The two spent some time texting earlier this year about football and life as a football star.

    One fan thinks Manziel would find the ultimate friend if he became a Patriot.

    Manziel wasn’t the only quarterback to visit the Patriots on Wednesday. Former Louisville Cardinal Teddy Bridgewater also met with the Patriots.

    The Patriots have been looking into quarterbacks lately. They also visited with Central Florida’s Blake Bortles in Orlando last week while checking out other prospective players at UCF.

    Image via Johnny Manziel, Instragram.

  • 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Johnny Manziel Approaches No.1 Pick Again

    Another round of the 2014 NFL mock draft has been released, and this time quarterback Johnny Manziel is placed at the top. A number of players have been discussed as a possible No.1 pick, but Manziel may be emerging as the favorite as the draft comes closer.

    He was a Hesiman winner in 2012, and one of the runners up for the 2013 season, as he passed the torch to the young quarterback at Florida State, Jameis Winston.

    Johnny Manziel has been hailed for his skills in being able to throw and pass the ball efficiently, although some people think that he may not be NFL material. He could simply have the college style of play, which would not translate well to the NFL, a problem that has happened to various quarterbacks.

    However, due to the way that the Texas A&M quarterback performed at the pro day workout, he is being considered as a possible No.1 pick in the draft. Famous quarterbacks such as Brett Favre and Fran Tarkenton have both said that they can see aspects of themselves being emulated by the young player.

    It can sometimes be risky to take a quarterback as the No.1 pick, and some people have also heavily discussed the idea of Jadeveon Clowney being selected with the No.1 pick, although in the latest mock draft, he has slipped to the No.5 slot. Clowney is one of the top players at his position, and played as a defensive end at South Carolina.

    The connection to these picks being somewhat switched around could also relate to the fact that the Raiders and Texans recently made a deal that sent quarterback Matt Schaub to the Raiders, giving the Texans a more urgent need for a quarterback.

    The 2014 NFL mock draft has the Texans with the No.1 pick of course after their awful season in 2013, followed by the Rams, Jaguars, Browns, and Raiders. The Rams received their No.2 pick in a trade with the Redskins, who recently acquired free agent DeSean Jackson.

    The Rams are currently predicted to take Jake Matthews, an offensive tackle who has spent his college years blocking for Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M, while the next two picks are slated to go to quarterback Blake Bortles from Central Florida, and Greg Robinson, an offensive tackle from Auburn.

    A couple of other star-caliber players such as quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and wide receiver Mike Evans, who were both originally predicted in the top ten, are now set to go with the 8th and 12th picks, being drafted by the Vikings and Giants, respectively.

    The 2014 NFL mock draft will continually be updated leading up to the big draft day, which will begin with round 1 on May 8th. Will Johnny Manziel end up going to the Texans with the No.1 pick, or would someone else fit better with Houston’s roster?

    Image via Youtube

  • Hulk Hogan Says Johnny Manziel Is The Next Greatest Of All Time

    Hulk Hogan is such a big fan of Johnny Manziel that he came up with a video praising the player. Wearing a bright lime green shirt, red headgear, shades, and his iconic Hulkster ‘stache, the wrestler began his video by saying: “Hulk Hogan here, the greatest of all time.”

    Hogan then introduced the reason for his on-screen appearance: “But the next greatest that’s coming along, that’s gonna change the whole world of football, is ‘Johnny Football Jack’, Johnny Manziel.”

    The Hulkster then moved away from the center of the screen, revealing a cardboard cutout of Manziel about to make a pass. He began to express his admiration in earnest.

    “You know no one could tell except Hulk Hogan that he’d have the heart of a lion,” the 60-year-old celebrity said.

    Hogan continued, saying “No one could tell except Hulk Hogan that he’d have the greatest arm that’s gonna be in the NFL,” as he flexed his own arm, showing off his bulging muscles. And according to him, no one else but him could tell that Manziel is “a superior being, a superior athlete” because of course, it takes on to know one, right?

    Last Thursday, the Texas A&M quarterback had his Pro Day, his official workout for the annual NFL drafts. Present were 30 NFL teams, seven head coaches, and at least eight general managers. The Pro Day even drew the attention of Texas governor Rick Perry and former president George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara.

    Manziel threw a total of 65 passes, and all but two were caught by six receivers. He definitely impressed his audience, and after the workout thanked them for coming. Later that day he met with several teams to discuss his pro career.

    Hogan may have seen enough of Manziel’s game to have developed such an extreme admiration, but he also may not know Manziel’s name by heart. The wrestler says in his video, “So, you know somethin’? When Johnny Mantell, Manziel, I call him ‘Johnny Football’—what the heck, I call everybody ‘brother’.” The blunder and excuse were said in rapid succession—perhaps he was that excited?

    Overcoming his slip-up Hogan said, “When Johnny Football takes over the NFL, whatchagonna do when the host of Wrestlemania 30 is behind Johnny Football and we run wild—on—you?” he growled, while slowly throwing a massive knuckle at the camera.

    What will pro football and wrestling fans do, indeed? Is the Hulkster right in his predictions of Manziel’s success as a “superior athlete” in the NFL? Or will he turn out to be just another football player who’ll eventually falter once he begins his pro career? We’ll just have to find out.

    Hulk Hogan thinks Johnny Manziel is the next “greatest of all time”. Watch video.

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  • Johnny Manziel Lives Up To Hype In Pro Day Workout

    College football player Johnny Manziel recently had his official workout for the annual drafts of the NFL teams, and it drew attention from former president George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara, and Texas governor Rick Perry.

    During the workout held Thursday, the Texas A&M University quarterback threw for 75 officials representing 30 teams.

    Manziel, known to students and fans as “Johnny Football,” entered the facility with his receivers and a Drake soundtrack that blared over the building. In true flashy Manziel form, the quarterback arrived in full gear, wearing a black jersey with his number 2 on the back, camouflage shorts, shoulder pads, and a helmet.

    Evaluating Johnny Manziel’s performance in Pro Day workout

    The shoulder pads and helmet caused quite a stir, but Manziel said that it was a no-brainer. According to him, players wear the shoulder pads in Sundays games, so “why not come out and do it?” Manziel said that he was “going for perfection” when he threw 65 passes to six receivers. Only two were not caught. Sixteen NFL general managers and head coaches watched the workout. General manager Rick Smith and coach Bill O’Brien liked what they saw, but admitted that the workout was just one step in the long process of drafting.

    New York Jets’ Michael Vick and Miami Heat’s LeBron James also complimented Manziel on his skills.

    George Whitfield, who runs a quarterback training academy, ran the workout and was impressed with Manziel’s competitiveness. Manziel and Whitfield have worked together through Manziel’s career and have spent the last two months training in California.

    Manziel worked under center and did throws of varying distances, both in the pocket and on the run. Whitfield added some challenges to prove that “we didn’t have anything to hide.”

    Whitfield on Manziel

    After the workout, Manziel called all the NFL officials and personally thanked them for coming. That afternoon, he met several teams to discuss future plans.

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  • Fran Tarkenton: Manziel Has Franchise Qualities, But Has Questionable Character

    Former NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton sees himself in Johnny Manziel, and has no doubt that the former Texas A&M quarterback can make plays in the league. Whether Manziel has the qualities to become a leader is a different story.

    Manziel is being considered as one of the NFL’s top three quarterback prospects, together with Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater and Central Florida’s Blake Bortles.

    Some say that Manziel’s small frame isn’t ideal for the big league, but Tarkenton, himself slightly smaller than other players during his heyday, thinks size isn’t a problem, as long as one knows how to play the game. And being a prime quarterback is something Manziel can definitely do.

    Tarkenton considers Manziel to be a quarterback savant, but he knows that on-field talent is not enough, especially now that the NFL clubs are evaluating probable new players. “You look at your great players, they have to be leaders in the clubhouse and off the field,” Tarkenton said. They don’t necessarily need to be pious churchgoers, but “They have to have character.”

    Manziel stands to be a high-reward, but also a high-risk draft pick because of his questionable character. Last summer, he had to prematurely leave the Manning Passing Academy because he overslept, making him miss a morning meeting. Manziel has also been known to have a bad-boy image, if the “exploits” he posted on social media were any indication.

    Tarkenton commented that he would have to spend more time with the young player so that he could understand him better. He had already seen what Manziel can do on the field, but character is another matter. Manziel’s off-field behavior could be a problem, Tarkenton said, if Manziel would be drafted in the league. “There’s never been a great quarterback I know of who was a rodent,” Tarkenton added.

    During his prime, Tarkenton played 18 seasons, leading the Minnesota Vikings to three appearances at the Super Bowl. When he retired, he owned every major quarterback record.

    Johnny Manziel’s Character May Be Questionable But His Game Isn’t!

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  • Fran Tarkenton Sees Doppelganger in Johnny Manziel

    Perhaps no college football has been scrutinized more than Johnny Manziel. The former Texas A&M quarterback dazzled in the spotlight during his two years in college, providing college football fans enough excitement to last them through at least one off-season. While Manziel has earned the nickname “Johnny Football” due to this unusual athletic feats on the field, many NFL experts and executives still doubt whether or not the former Aggie will be able to make it at the next level. There is one former NFL great who has no doubts, however – Fran Tarkenton.

    In a recent interview with USA Today, Tarkenton states, “Nobody really played like I played. This kid plays like I did more than anybody else.”

    Such a statement coming from Tarkenton is not one to be laughed at. Tarkenton played 18 seasons in the NFL for both the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants. By the time Tarkenton retired in 1978, he owned almost every important quarterback record on the books. In his stellar career, Tarkenton racked up 3,686 completions for 47,003 yards and 342 touchdowns through the air, adding another 3,674 yards rushing to combine for over 50,000 total career yards.

    And he did so facing almost all the same criticisms currently plaguing Manziel.

    The biggest beef NFL scouts have against Manziel’s game is potentially his size. At the NFL combine, Manziel measured in at 5-foot-11 and 3/4 inches tall and 207 pounds – a mere 1/4 inch shorter than Tarkenton but 17 pounds heavier.

    “People are going to say, ‘Well, he’s only 5-11¾ tall. I wasn’t as big, strong and fast as all these other players. But I knew how to play,” states Tarkenton.

    From his career college stat line, one cannot deny that Manziel knows how to play as well. In his two years at Texas A&M, Manziel threw for 7,820 yards with 63 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. These numbers helped Manziel to destroy Alabama’s No. 1 defense in two consecutive years and led to the Aggie winning the Heisman Trophy in his freshman season.

    Despite all of the skill and accolades Manziel has received, there are still those who hold many doubts as to whether Manziel will be a successful NFL quarterback. While some question if Manziel will be big enough to compete at a more physically demanding level, most question if Manziel is mature enough to handle the responsibility of being an NFL quarterback.

    “The things that went on last year with him leaving the Manning camp and other activities, I just want to understand that a little better. Everything I’ve seen of the kid, I love… But you’ve got to make sure. Because there’s never been a great quarterback I know of who was a rodent,” opined Tarkenton.

    The discrepancies in the analysis of “Johnny Football” have led to an insanely diverse set of opinions as to when Manziel will be selected in this year’s NFL Draft; Some scouts have Manziel being chosen by the Houston Texans as the first overall pick, while others have college football’s most dynamic quarterback slipping all the way to the third round.

    Whatever the result of the 2014 NFL Draft, one thing is for certain – the ever-constant analysis of Johnny Manziel is not going to cease anytime soon.

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  • Barry Switzer Calls Johnny Manziel Arrogant

    Johnny Manziel, also called “Johnny Football”, has been one of college football’s top figures for a couple of years now. His name causes debate and people either love him or hate him.

    Legendary coach Barry Switzer is not a big fan of Manziel as evidenced in his CBS Sports Radio interview on Wednesday morning. The former coach said that Manziel is arrogant and that he does not like his antics. He went on saying that the football player is a privileged kid who has embarrassed his team and coach.

    Switzer may be referring to several instances where Manziel’s name came up in headlines. Last year, the football star got a half-game suspension for allegedly taking money for autographs. There were also several news articles on how Manziel spends his time partying and going to casinos when off the field.

    After bashing Manziel, Switzer was quick to say that Manziel is the best quarterback in college football he has seen in a really long time. He also said that Manziel has been putting up astounding numbers one game after another with his strong arm, quick moves, and elusiveness in the field. Switzer has also praised the football player’s performance against stiff competition. He finished his statement by saying that Manziel is the most dynamic and dominant quarterback in college football he has ever seen.

    Johnny Football has had a polarizing presence in collegiate football. He is full of talent on the field, but has had some issues off field, which have been raising questions regarding his maturity.

    With the 2014 NFL draft just a few months away, people are sure to voice out their opinions on the prospect players and this may be the time for Manziel to get on the good side of critics both on and off the field. Ultimately, however, what matters is whether or not his game is worthy of the NFL.

    http://youtu.be/VafDFE97010

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  • Johnny Manziel’s NFL Combine Results: How Did He Compare?

    Former Texas A&M star and Heisman winner Johnny Manziel’s official NFL Combine results are in. The redshirt sophomore quarterback, who decided to forego his final two seasons of eligibility to head for the pros, ran a 4.68 in the 40-yard dash on Sunday and did well in the other drills. Manziel’s speed makes him just a step slower than former number one NFL Draft picks Andrew Luck (40-yard dash time of 4.66) and Cam Newton (40-yard dash time of 4.59). How did the much hyped quarterback, who has been compared to Brett Favre, stack up to other draft hopefuls yesterday?

    While Manziel’s 40 time was solid, he wasn’t quite the quickest quarterback at the NFL Combine, nor did he outdo the competition in the broad jump, vertical jump, or cone drill. Manziel had the fourth fastest 40 time, which put him behind Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas, Miami’s Stephen Morris, and South Carolina’s Connor Shaw. In fact, Manziel finished behind Thomas and Shaw in three other categories as well. Check out the results for the top five quarterback performers in each category below.

    40-YARD DASH
    Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech (4.61)
    Stephen Morris, Miami (4.63)
    Connor Shaw, South Carolina (4.66)
    Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (4.68)
    Derek Carr, Fresno State (4.69)

    BROAD JUMP
    Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech (118.0)
    Connor Shaw, South Carolina (116.0)
    Blake Bortles, Central Florida (115.0)
    Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville (113.0)
    Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (113.0)

    VERTICAL JUMP
    Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech (35.5)
    Derek Carr, Fresno St. (34.5)
    Connor Shaw, South Carolina (34.0)
    Blake Bortles, Central Florida (32.5)
    Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (31.5)

    CONE DRILL
    Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech (4.61)
    Stephen Morris, Miami (4.63)
    Connor Shaw, South Carolina (4.66)
    Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (4.68)
    Derek Carr, Fresno St. (4.69)

    Manziel had a great showing at the NFL Combine, but will it be enough for some of the questions surrounding him to go away? Even though Manziel is considered a first round draft pick by most analysts–and a top five pick, at that–the fact that Manziel chose not to participate in the passing drills certainly didn’t help questions surrounding his arm strength. Manziel will have to put those questions to rest when he throws for scouts at a workout he has scheduled for late March.

    Manziel’s height has also been a bit of a concern for some analysts, and the quarterback measured in shorter than his height listed at Texas A&M, which was 6’1″. Manziel measured at just under six feet at 5-foot-11 3/4 at the Combine. Of course NFL quarterback Russell Wilson–who just happened to win the Super Bowl–also measures in at 5’11”, so being a little shorter than the average NFL quarterback certainly doesn’t equate to being unsuccessful in the NFL.

    The question of whether Johnny Football is mature enough to handle the NFL is still there, but that isn’t anything that can be answered by a Combine drill. Despite Manziel’s shorter height and not being the fastest quarterback at the NFL Combine as many expected, most would agree that as far as Manziel is concerned, the whole is greater than the sum of his parts. Do you think Johnny Manziel will be a high first round pick in the NFL Draft? Add your comments below.

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  • Johnny Manziel Has Been Compared To Brett Favre, And Even Favre Can See Why

    Johnny Manziel has been continually praised throughout his college career for the way in which he is able to pass and run effectively as a quarterback. As a star for Texas A&M, he impressed fans as one of the best passers in the league, while also leading his team in rushing.

    He is one of the best, if not the best college player in this class, as he prepares to head into the 2014 NFL draft, and has even been compared to Brett Favre. Favre recently took notice of this comparison, and was able to give his take on the situation.

    Through a recent interview with USA Today, Brett Favre revealed that he also felt that the play of Johnny Manziel was reminiscent of his early days. As with Manziel, Favre had a strong arm, and was able to run, utilizing a skill that many quarterbacks have not been able to master.

    Johnny Football was impressive for Favre to watch, and speaking on a particular game that he had seen, the former NFL star said “I almost thought I was watching film of a young Brett Favre. I didn’t think I did a lot of things well (in college at Southern Miss), but he did. And and I liked the attitude of ‘whatever it takes’ — from that standpoint, I liked him.”

    Johnny Manziel will be one of the key players to keep an eye on in the draft, in addition to the upcoming NFL scouting combine, which is taking place this week. However, he doesn’t plan to throw for scouts and personnel executives until March 27th.

    He had great success in college, and has almost gained a celebrity status with his nickname of “Johnny Football,” along with the way that he has attracted such a large amount of fans, especially as a college player. Manziel won the Heisman Trophy last season, and while he made it to the final six this year, it was Jameis Wisnton who ended up winning the award.

    With a 6’0, 210 pound figure, he is also small for a quarterback. He has significant similarities to Russell Wilson in terms of their build, and playing style, and the young player has also credited Wilson, a recent Super Bowl winner, for giving shorter quarterbacks a chance in the NFL.

    After an outstanding career with the Texas A&M Aggies, Johnny Manziel is ready to transition into the NFL. The two most likely destinations for him to end up seem to be with the Houston Texans or the Cleveland Browns. Who should get him? Is he able to become a star in the NFL in the same way that Russell Wilson has?

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