After years of red flags from former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, it appears the irresponsible star is finally taking one step towards being a leader.
It was announced Monday the Browns quarterback entered ‘treatment’ last Wednesday, according to adviser Brad Beckworth. It’s the first time — that we can remember — we’ve seen the 22-year-old do anything remotely responsible off the field.
Help for ‘Johnny Football’ is much needed. And in case you need a recap as to why, here were 6 major signs.
Manziel pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge after being arrested in June 2012. He was tied to a fight in College Station and ‘failed to properly identify himself’ to police. Essentially he got caught with a fake ID after trying to beat someone’s face in, so it appears.
Going to Vegas on weekends and essentially telling reporters that what he does on his free-time is no one else’s business — just the tip of the iceberg. It’s been non-stop balls-to-the-walls since he won the Heisman Trophy in 2012.
Glad he’s enjoying himself. I mean, look at those ladies … But when was the last time you saw a Super Bowl winning quarterback like Joe Flacco or Russell Wilson heading to Vegas during the season? The QB is the face of the franchise and the key component to executing the playbook — hard to do that in the midst of Mai Tais and bikinis pool side.
… In the bathroom, at a club … Now, we’re not completely jumping to conclusions here, but c’mon … (This made national news by the way).
It was just last November when Manziel and his ‘entourage’ were caught in a fight in a Cleveland hotel and apartment building.
According to Manziel’s agent, here’s what happened:
“Johnny and his roommate had been out to dinner earlier in the evening with Johnny’s mother, who is staying with him this week,” Burkhardt said in a statement to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1. “There was no entourage. Johnny and his roommate were trying to get on the apartment elevator at his home when they were accosted by a very aggressive man and his associates. It was an unfortunate situation and he immediately let [Browns general manager] Ray Farmer and the team know what happened.”
Unfortunate circumstance? Maybe. Most likely a debt owed and/or Johnny is still hanging with the wrong crowd. Stuff like this doesn’t happen to Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers.
It’s the final week of the season, Dec. 23 to be precise. Manziel told the media that he wanted to be “the guy” for Cleveland — outlining his plan to become the starting quarterback. He said he would take the job more seriously and appeared ready to grab the bull by the horns.
Just four days later, Manziel failed to show up for a team walk-through. Rumors swirled that it was because of a giant party he threw the night before. One source reportedly said that Manziel was “drunk off his a–.”
This, this is wrong on so many levels.
The Browns still expect Manziel to join training camp this summer and are leaving it up to Johnny to clean himself up.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.
Photo Credit: Getty
