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Johnny Manziel is 21 years old.
At least until Saturday, a point that sometimes seems forgotten.
Johnny Football, the mythical figure created at Texas A&M, won the Heisman trophy almost exactly two years ago, the first freshman to win college football’s greatest individual award.
Surely since then, everything’s been a blur.
Manziel has become an A-list sports celebrity, VIP parties and opportunities, his movements tracked via social media, a shoutout in a song by Grammy award winning rapper Drake; he was a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, though lower than some projected, making him an overnight millionaire; and he has co-billing, alongside four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, in the rebuilding of Cleveland sports.
Think about all that.
Sitting on the bench for the Browns this season would have appeared a blessing in disguise, a chance for Manziel to take a deep breath, soak in all that’s transpired in his life. Yet he wants what he wants: the freedom to go out when he pleases with whom he pleases and the steering wheel as the Browns attempt to make the postseason for the first time since 2002.
“Obviously, that’s a decision that’s made by coach (Mike) Pettine and this week his answer was, ‘no,’ ” Manziel told reporters Wednesday. “Moving forward, whatever transpires, maybe next time the answer will be, ‘yes.’ ”
Not that he asked for it, but here are two “birthday” tips for Manziel:
1. Spend the time and grind – it’s indisputable that Manziel is more talented than veteran Brian Hoyer. Even in his first meaningful game action, Manziel engineered an 80-yard touchdown drive that highlighted his playmaking skills, capped by his own scoring run from 10 yards out. But Manziel should chew on a line in a story by Fox Sports, which first reported the Browns’ quarterback choice Wednesday.
“According to sources, there is widespread locker room support among Browns players for Hoyer, despite his recent struggles.”
Manziel must ask himself why.
How has Hoyer earned so much faith from his teammates, even in the midst of adversity? And what can Manziel do to get that?
It’s hard to know how much time Manziel spends watching film and studying his playbook. But I think back to 2012, when the Seattle Seahawks signed Matt Flynn to a three-year, $26 million contract that included $10 million in guarantees. The club also drafted Russell Wilson in the third round of the NFL Draft. By Week 1, Wilson was unquestionably the starter, despite the club’s financial investment in Flynn. I recall speaking to receiver Sidney Rice, who told me that Wilson lived at the facility, consistently shined in practices and avoided “rookie mistakes.”
And while Wilson isn’t elite yet, Manziel doesn’t have to look far to see a similarity in the league’s most accomplished active quarterbacks: hard work. Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees all have at least one Super Bowl ring, and they’re all known for their commitment to the craft, fulfilling the cliché of being the first to arrive at their respective facilities and being the last to leave.
In June, during an appearance on the NFL Network, Joe Montana recalled a conversation with San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh after he won his first Super Bowl. Montana was reaping the benefits of his season, flying everywhere and doing everything.
“ ‘I just want to tell you one thing. I understand what you’re doing. We may never get back to another Super Bowl,’ ” Montana recalled Walsh saying. “ ‘But just remember this, the less people see you, the more they want to see you.’
“So basically he was saying it’s okay to do some things, but try to cut it back, but don’t forget about football because that’s got you to where you are and that’s what’s going to keep you there.”
2. Embrace the different set of rules – Late last month, at 2:30 a.m., a fan was punched by someone in Manziel’s entourage for trying to hug the quarterback. In explaining the incident, Manziel resorted to the most basic excuse: Everyone else does it.
Specifically, Manziel said, “I know there’s other guys around the league and other guys in this locker room that do the same thing and enjoy their time when they’re out of the building…”
That comment suggests he doesn’t think it fair that he can’t function in the same way as other players or teammates.
But quarterbacks – especially franchise quarterbacks – have a different set of expectations. By the sheer importance of the position, quarterbacks must be more careful, more consistent, more accountable. That’s why quarterbacks make more money, on and off the field, than anyone else.
The backup left guard for the Browns may be able to get away with kicking it at a nightclub into the wee hours of the morning. But the backup left guard doesn’t relish the same perks available to Manziel.
During the summer, Manziel told the Associated Press, “I’m not going to change who I am for anybody.
“I’m growing up and continuing to learn from my mistakes and trying not to make the same ones over and over again, but am I going to live in a shell or am I just going to hide from everybody and not do anything?
“I’m committed to my job, but on the weekends, I’m going to enjoy my time off. We deserve it.”
At present, it appears Manziel has surrounded himself with buddies, Yes Men. But if he’s wise, he’ll lean more on someone who won’t always carry out his whims and blindly follow his lead. If he’s wise, Manziel will also care more about his image, the fact that he shouldn’t be laughing on the sideline when his club is down 25 points. And if he’s wise, he’ll look at his set of rules as a positive instead of a negative.
It’s entirely possible Manziel replaces Hoyer if the veteran struggles against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday. It’s also entirely possible Manziel gets hot and leads the Browns into the postseason.
But for Manziel to have sustained success, a la Brady, Brees, Manning and Rodgers, than he’s got to grow up, on and off the field.
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