Nothing ever works out as you originally plan them. Curveballs are always thrown because life tends to act like a big jerk, sometimes. For example, take Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. His rookie season was nothing short of a disaster. Manziel’s first season didn’t pan out the way his original plans were written. Manziel wanted to come in like wrecking ball, but it turned out to be more of a small dry sponge.
In two starts last year, Manziel completed 13 of 26 passes for a total of 112 yards and two interceptions. Johnny Football was yanked shortly thereafter for Brian Hoyer in last December’s game against the Carolina Panthers. That was Manziel’s rookie year. It is similar to most rookie years when the quarterback is thrust into the starting position when he may or may not be ready.
Johnny Manziel wasn’t ready. He needed more time in the oven to bake and stew in some juices — or get some of the juices out of his system as it turns out.
Manziel checked himself into rehab on Feburary 4th and began a ten week stay of treatment. Who knows what Manziel thought about in rehab? Speculating on such a thing is nonsense, so feel free to do so at your own risk. I can only say what I, personally, would think about were I in Johnny Football’s position at that time.
You’re one of the better and definitely most flashy college quarterbacks of the last decade. You helped raise the Texas A&M program to what it is after their move to the SEC. You’re in a terrific position with the Cleveland Browns to be the starting quarterback there for a decade if everything falls perfectly into place. Much like Lebron James, you can be a son (or adopted son in this case) to the city of Cleveland if you can provide even a flicker of hope.
… alright … Let’s go to work, Johnny.
There was a different kind of moxie to Johnny Manziel this past off-season. He worked hard to try and get the trust back from Browns teammates who he lost last year. One of the first people who recognized was Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas — a pretty big endorsement. Thomas was asked in April about Manziel’s maturation, and Thomas told the NFL Network that the difference was night and day between “2014 Johnny Manziel” and “2015 Johnny Manziel”.
“Last year, on a Saturday, you might see a picture of him on Instagram floating in a swan, drinking champagne. This year, on a Saturday, if you came in the building, you’d see him studying his playbook and watching film with his coach.”
Off-season and training camps continued, and there was no news about Manziel’s off the field antics. He wasn’t in the news for the wrong reason. The only thing you heard about him was how he had a sore elbow in the pre-season that cost him the final two games of the season after head coach Mike Pettine decided to sit him. Manziel was reportedly upset about it, but he didn’t fight the team. Manziel took the advice from coaches, and Josh McCown eventually got tabbed as the week 1 starter against the New York Jets.
Fast forward to last Sunday when McCown attempted to do his best John Elway helicopter impression which led to a concussion. Enter Johnny Manziel. He had his moments in his 13-24 for 182 yards with this beautiful touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin and one interception. Manziel didn’t look as shaky as he did in two starts last year. That’s progress. That’s maturity. Offensive coordinator John DeFilippio sees that Manziel has progressed from last year, but there could always be improvement.
“I saw him going through his progressions. Did he take off and run when a lane was there? Yeah. Did we get down and was he trying to do too much at times? Probably. That just comes with the maturation of understanding situational football,” said DeFilippo to Cleveland.com.
The Browns have yet to choose a starter for this week’s home opener against Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans, but here’s hoping it’s Manziel. If it is Johnny Football, I only have this advice to give. Don’t shy away from the moment, Johnny. That isn’t your style. Come in with the swagger and perform well. Don’t even give Mike Pettine the thought of pulling you like last year.
If Manziel starts on Sunday and plays well, it would be very hard not to keep him as the starter for the rest of the year. That’s what Johnny Football has to do: play well enough so that he makes the decision for his coach, and not the other way around. Manziel has matured over the past year, and the NFL loves a comeback story — even if it’s only Manziel’s second year in the league.
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