The Cleveland Browns have been the laughing stock of the NFL for some time now… Roughly 16 years, but who’s counting?
And between horrible drafting, bad head coaches, inept general managers, the revolving door in the front office, and the search for a franchise quarterback, it seemed like nothing could make the Browns any more of a joke than they already were two years ago.
But, no. There were far, far lower levels this franchise had not yet sunk to, and we saw that in the two years with Ray Farmer, Mike Pettine, and one Jonathan “Football” Manziel.
The coach and GM are gone, but the quarterback is still under contract for two more seasons. If Browns’ owner Jimmy Haslam has any sense, (which is a question mark to begin with), he would trade or release Manziel at the first chance that comes up.
Let’s first and foremost acknowledge that there is a segment of the fan base that is rooting more for Manziel than for what is best for the franchise. I’ve seen them at games, cheering when Josh McCown got hurt against the Ravens on Monday Night Football, and then boo-ing when “their guy” didn’t come in, as Austin Davis was second-string that game, because Manziel went against his word to not “make any headlines” during the Bye Week and then lied on top of it with an elaborate cover-up scheme. Franchise quarterback, everybody.
Let’s also acknowledge there is a segment of fans who would root against Manziel when he was on the field wearing the brown and orange. That doesn’t do any good, either.
For the rest of the fans, who just want to see the team become respectable again at the very least, can we try to use some common sense, here?
Manziel’s off-the-field issues have been an ongoing distraction at the very least. To say it hasn’t been a distraction is complete denial.
It’s true that he hasn’t been arrested, convicted of a crime, or been suspended by the NFL. But what leadership qualities do you see in him? Seriously.
Is lying to your team about a video and having your friends call the team to support the story “LEADERSHIP MATERIAL?”
Does anyone really believe Manziel didn’t go to Las Vegas, while under concussion protocol, the night before the last game of the season, when the team rules state that you have to check in with the team the day of the game?
Manziel was not in communication with the team at all the day of the Pittsburgh game. Is that leadership material?
He posted a picture of him and his dog on social media Saturday night, tagging the location as Avon, OH.
If he was in Avon, why couldn’t he make an appearance to support his teammates on the last game of the season? Not leadership material.
If he wasn’t in Avon, and he posted the picture to cover up a lie, while he was in Las Vegas, that’s even worse.
Browns fans, your franchise is a joke, and it is crap like this that only adds to it.
Personally, I believe Manziel could become a successful quarterback if he got his mind right. Even Pettine made similar statements, and Pettine supposedly hates him according to Manziel’s biggest fans.
But the latest actions, including the two most recent videos surfacing, show that Manziel doesn’t seem to mind being on camera doing things that he knows will turn into a distraction for the team.
Maybe he did it as a way to “get out of Cleveland.”
Maybe he was in a state of mind where he just didn’t care.
Maybe he has a problem that runs deeper than just “living a party lifestyle.” After all, people with problems tend to not see that one exists. It’s not for reporters to say, it’s not the media’s job to be his life-coach, but what do you think his free-loading friends are telling him when he’s buying the bar a round? “You’re the best Johnny, never change… Make mine a fireball.”
It’s also not the media’s job or the coach’s job to make excuses for him. If fans want to do that, by all means go ahead. Supporting behavior that has de-railed his career and diminished his chances of success is the best way to show how much you love somebody.
There are 32 starting NFL quarterback jobs. The majority of those are occupied by proven players, who worked their tails off to get those jobs, and continue to prepare, act professional, and work even more to keep their job.
Cleveland was one of the few teams bad enough in the NFL that Manziel had a chance to be starting quarterback for years to come. That still wasn’t enough motivation for him.
The Browns are searching for a new head coach and a new general manager. If they go into that search with uncertainty about what to do with Manziel, it’s only going to be more of a distraction. Smart coaches would steer away from the mess.
In a perfect world, the Browns could trade Manziel for a draft pick, get a little bit of value back, and another team to take his contract.
It’s not clear how many teams or if any at all would line up to do that. So, let’s see if any other team values him and that alone will tell you what the perception of the league is.
If Manziel is the “Franchise Quarterback” that his fans believe him to be, there should be GM’s knocking on the door left and right! Great.
If not, then why are the Browns the only ones dumb enough to keep him? They think they can outsmart everybody? Just like they’ve done in the last 16 years’ worth of draft picks?
They really showed the rest of the league how smart they were.
This is the first time since Tim Couch that the Browns have the chance to grab their first choice at quarterback in the draft. Tennessee is not going to draft a QB, so unless another team trades up to move to number one, this is the best opportunity the Browns have had since the expansion draft to find their franchise quarterback.
If Haslam is still in love with Manziel and can’t stand to see him go, then making the best football decision may not be what it comes down to, but it wasn’t when the Browns drafted him in the first place.
So as much as Manziel needs to change, the team owner has to change his way, too.
There is still a chance that Manziel becomes a good NFL quarterback, if he makes necessary changes in the right direction to show that he is serious about being a team leader and can handle all the responsibility that comes with the job.
As of late, he’s taken steps in the complete opposite direction to show that he either does not want that job to be in Cleveland, doesn’t care enough to make that job his number one priority, or simply cannot change his lifestyle because he doesn’t see there’s a problem with it.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Johnny, stay in Vegas until you figure out what you really want to accomplish in the NFL, and in life. Maybe you can sign hundred dollar bills at casinos if the whole “football” thing doesn’t work out.
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