Inside Manziel's rocky rookie season

[joseephuss]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...struggled-commitment-preparation-sources-said

BEREA, Ohio -- The name on the card that night in May seemed to draw as much anxiety as it did excitement.

Johnny Manziel, Quarterback, Texas A&M.

The former Heisman Trophy winner had been passed over 21 times, prompting a text from Manziel to then-Browns quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains that he wanted to "wreck this league" in Cleveland. The words were actually more R-rated, but the implication was clear.

Twitter erupted at the selection. A Cleveland radio host cheered and screamed openly on air. Manziel gave his "money" sign as he walked onstage to greet Roger Goodell.

By season's end, cheering had turned to frustration and anger as Manziel struggled mightily in almost six quarters as a starter, then was fined for being AWOL the final Saturday of the season. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan resigned with two years left on his contract. Loggains was fired. The Browns openly discussed Manziel's viability as the franchise's quarterback at a wide-ranging postseason staff meeting about the roster. And at least a couple of Manziel's teammates were joking his text should have read "wreck this team."

Now the Browns point to 2015 with a talented but misguided quarterback who must repair the wreckage done in his own locker room.

Interviews by ESPN.com with nearly 20 Browns sources, both on the record and on condition of anonymity, along with several NFL personnel sources reveal the Manziel-related problems run deep.

Those who spoke talked of a year-long pattern that showed a lack of commitment and preparation, a failure to be ready when given a chance in his first start against Cincinnati and a continued commitment to nightlife, which affected his preparation and work while in the team facility.

As one player put it, Manziel throughout the entire 2014 season was a "100 percent joke."
Some said it should not have been a surprise, that the Browns were well aware what they were getting.

"During the draft process, not one person interviewed by the team said he was going to grow up," said one source directly involved in the drafting of Manziel. "You can't blame Johnny. This is who he is. The team knew that."

ESPN.com requested to interview coach Mike Pettine or general manager Ray Farmer about Manziel, and made several attempts to reach Manziel through intermediaries. The Browns and a Manziel rep from LRMR Management referred specific questions about the quarterback to the interviews all parties gave after the season.

"I need to start doing every single thing and everything the right way and if I don't I'm going to be exposed," Manziel said shortly after the season.

The theme from Pettine and Farmer in postseason news conferences was blunt: It's time for Manziel's actions to back up his words. Farmer did not mention anything from 2014 when asked what made him believe Manziel can succeed. His belief, he said, is based on "everything he did in three years when he was in college."

People close to Manziel say he's a well-intentioned 22-year-old who wants to be great but needed an NFL season to realize natural ability isn't enough.

Some teammates doubt he can ever change. Others are hopeful.

"People make mistakes," cornerback Joe Haden said. "I'm all about giving second chances."

 

[Danger]

Manziel won't be more than an average starter in the NFL if that. Doesn't have elite speed to get away from defenders. Doesn't know how to make progressions. Poor arm strength. Limited (if any) knowledge on calling audibles or making adjustments. He seems to have poor commitment and immature. No one will respect him if he continues to make bone headed decisions.

I don't blame all the lack of intangibles solely on Manziel as the Aggies offense didn't require one to make progressions or lead a huddle so JM never learned it.

 

[visionary]

If he is an average starter the browns will be lucky

He is far more likely to never amount to anything than be an average NFL starter IMO

 

[DFWJC]

He's not for sure a bust yet, but there's a pretty long list of people that absolutely trashed Romo and said was done And worse). Many said we'd be giant fools to not draft Manziel even if we needed to trade up.
Come to think of it, we haven't heard much from them in many months now.

 

[MrPeanutbutter]

He's not for sure a bust yet, but there's a pretty long list of people that absolutely trashed Romo and said was done And worse). Many said we'd be giant fools to not draft Manziel even if we needed to trade up.
Come to think of it, we haven't heard much from them in many months now.

Romo had an arm. Johnny Football does not. He's bad and a bust.

In fact, the only saving grace for the Browns is they didn't blow their first pick on him.

 

[jimmy40]

supposedly manziel was partying with friends at a frat house in Austin last night.

 

[jimmy40]

Romo had an arm. Johnny Football does not. He's bad and a bust.

In fact, the only saving grace for the Browns is they didn't blow their first pick on him.

they blew that one on another idiot

 

[mahoneybill]

He's the browns problem, and I for one am very thankful he's not ours....

 

[daveferr33]

Many said we'd be giant fools to not draft Manziel even if we needed to trade up.
Come to think of it, we haven't heard much from them in many months now.

Well, I think Jerry Jones was prohibited from talking about Manziel at some point in the season. That's probably why we haven't heard from him in many months on this topic. But before that, all we heard were quotes like these from the master talent evaluator:

"I don't think anybody has to back into the fact that this guy is a winner," Jones said of Manziel. "He's a proven winner (against) high competition."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...y-jones-damn-mad-about-missing-johnny-manziel

"Manziel is special," Jones said. "I know him personally. I know that he is going to be a success in the National Football League, and it was a hard decision. And it is one that I will probably have for the rest of my career think about."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...s-passing-on-johnny-manziel-in-2014-nfl-draft

 

[DFWJC]

Well, I think Jerry Jones was prohibited from talking about Manziel at some point in the season. That's probably why we haven't heard from him in many months on this topic. But before that, all we heard were quotes like these from the master talent evaluator:



http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...y-jones-damn-mad-about-missing-johnny-manziel



http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...s-passing-on-johnny-manziel-in-2014-nfl-draft

Saved from himself for sure.

I wax actually talking about the 30-40 people in this forum that thought we had to take or someone...and that Romo was totally finished.

Jerry was a Manziel fan, no doubt.

 

[daveferr33]

Saved from himself for sure.

I wax actually talking about the 30-40 people in this forum that thought we had to take or someone...and that Romo was totally finished.

Jerry was a Manziel fan, no doubt.

Interesting that you would call out anonymous posters who don't pretend to be GMs rather than JJ. I can accept that some posters will make mistakes, after all, football is probably not their main concern in life.

But what is amazing is that JJ could be around pro football this long and be that clueless.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

"During the draft process, not one person interviewed by the team said he was going to grow up," said one source directly involved in the drafting of Manziel. "You can't blame Johnny. This is who he is. The team knew that."

 

[DFWJC]

Interesting that you would call out anonymous posters who don't pretend to be GMs rather than JJ. I can accept that some posters will make mistakes, after all, football is probably not their main concern in life.

But what is amazing is that JJ could be around pro football this long and be that clueless.

Well, of course Jerry gets called on this, but Jerry (for a change) was not who I was giving a hard time about this in this one thread--and he wasn't who was here screaming at the top of his lungs (or keyboard, whatever) that we were idiots if we didn't take Johnny FB or some other QB early in the draft last year.
I didn't name names because it wasn't necessary....as it's very clear who those people were.

BTW, I bet I've said Jerry dodged a bullet (his own) at least a dozen times in he past already. I completely agree that he was lucky there. He acted like a regular GM for a change and listened to those around him. If all GMs just ignored their scouts and staff and took who they liked very year, it would be disastrous.

 

[Risen Star]

Scary that this is the guy our GM coveted.

Ya know, the Executive of the Year. This is what he really wanted to do.

 

[Risen Star]

Well, of course Jerry gets called on this, but Jerry (for a change) was not who I was giving a hard time about this in this one thread--and he wasn't who was here screaming at the top of his lungs (or keyboard, whatever) that we were idiots if we didn't take Johnny FB or some other QB early in the draft last year.
I didn't name names because it wasn't necessary....as it's very clear who those people were.

BTW, I bet I've said Jerry dodged a bullet (his own) at least a dozen times in he past already. I completely agree that he was lucky there. He acted like a regular GM for a change and listened to those around him. If all GMs just ignored their scouts and staff and took who they liked very year, it would be disastrous.

"Regular" GMs aren't soley reliant on input from their staff.

The difference between a regular GM and Jerry is the legitimate one actually has something to offer in the discussion.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I have complained about Jerry enough and for good reason in the past.

I will not complain about him in this case.

He gave up the pick to the majority of others...old Jerry would have said to hell with the others we are taking pick.

Not going to complain about the guy when he made the right call even if it was not the call he wanted to make.

 

[daveferr33]

"Regular" GMs aren't soley reliant on input from their staff.

The difference between a regular GM and Jerry is the legitimate one actually has something to offer in the discussion.

For me, any discussion about Jerry Jone begins and ends with this fact. Because he is not talent evaluator, his must rely on others.

The Cowboys are at an incredible disadvantage by not having a real personnel guy, such as a Ted Thompson (who, as Packers GM, still does all his own scouting), or a John Schneider at the helm. These guys were scouts first, and then GMs:

Both general managers, of course, have been and are highly respected, successful architects of Super Bowl champion teams. And both have abiding traits that bode well for future sustained success: they are driven scouts at heart who remain unchanged by success, perfectly content to allow others to share or take credit.

Source: http://mmqb.si.com/2014/09/04/seattle-seahawks-green-bay-packers-john-schneider-ted-thompson/

Our best day is when the front office ignores the GM; when the GM is held at bay; when the GM is dissapointed in the first round draft pick.

 

[Risen Star]

For me, any discussion about Jerry Jone begins and ends with this fact. Because he is not talent evaluator, his must rely on others.

The Cowboys are at an incredible disadvantage by not having a real personnel guy, such as a Ted Thompson (who, as Packers GM, still does all his own scouting), or a John Schneider at the helm. These guys were scouts first, and then GMs:



Source: http://mmqb.si.com/2014/09/04/seattle-seahawks-green-bay-packers-john-schneider-ted-thompson/

Our best day is when the front office ignores the GM; when the GM is held at bay; when the GM is dissapointed in the first round draft pick.

No question. We have a giant void at GM. We have one at VP of Personnel too. That makes it really hard to win but I always had hope the right head coach could make it work. You saw how quickly the roster turned around with Parcells.

 

[Idgit]

I have complained about Jerry enough and for good reason in the past.

I will not complain about him in this case.

He gave up the pick to the majority of others...old Jerry would have said to hell with the others we are taking pick.

Not going to complain about the guy when he made the right call even if it was not the call he wanted to make.

Tony was doing press a day or two after the draft saying that he knew in advance the team wasn't going to draft Johnny Manziel. The Jerry comments were just another attempt by our owner to get some free press during the draft weekend and following for the Dallas Cowboys.

Does anybody really believe that if Jerry had actually wanted Johnny Manziel that that idiot would be slacking off games in CLE? He'd be sitting on our bench with a star on his helmet collecting his rookie paycheck.

 

[jimmy40]

Tony was doing press a day or two after the draft saying that he knew in advance the team wasn't going to draft Johnny Manziel. The Jerry comments were just another attempt by our owner to get some free press during the draft weekend and following for the Dallas Cowboys.

Does anybody really believe that if Jerry had actually wanted Johnny Manziel that that idiot would be slacking off games in CLE? He'd be sitting on our bench with a star on his helmet collecting his rookie paycheck.

there is absolutely no doubt about this whatsoever.