NFL Cleveland Browns

Johnny Manziel Needs To Take The Brett Favre Route

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Johnny Manziel at Carolina Panthers

Bob Donnan – USA Today

Johnny Manziel has had a rough go of it from the very beginning.

Dating back to last April’s NFL draft, many prognosticators believed Manziel would be selected towards the top of the first round. However, he fell to the Cleveland Browns with the 22nd pick. It was reported there was a bit of infighting amongst the staff where coaches and executives were split as to whether to even draft Manziel, and someone higher up (perhaps the owner) put their foot down and ordered the pick to happen.

It was clear from the beginning all parties were not sold on Manziel before he took one snap in a Browns uniform. The owner even had the audacity to label Manziel a “backup quarterback” seemingly as a way to humble him, as if they believed he would come in with a preconceived notion that being Johnny Football would automatically make him the opening day starter.

Unbeknownst to Manziel, the plan to sit him was plotted from Day 1 as the Browns did not want to have their quarterback decided based on popularity. With that said, it’s time for Johnny to get the heck out of Dodge Cleveland and take the path less beaten similar to one of his idols, Brett Favre.

Favre had a very similar personality to Manziel’s, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the 33rd pick in the second round out of Southern Miss. He was known as a party animal and a heavy drinker, but the Falcons could not deny his talent and drafted him anyway. Favre’s rookie season did not go so well. He was 0-for-4 with two interceptions and a plan to ship him out of Atlanta was in the works by then-coach Jerry Glanville.

In an interview a few years ago, Glanville detailed just why he decided to trade Favre to the Green Bay Packers, and his answer was simple yet compelling at the same time: “I needed to sober him up.” He believed this was the most important for the young Favre and Green Bay was the perfect fit because according to Glanville, “nothing is open past 9:00 p.m.”

While Manziel has had his share of the nightlife as well as attracting attention on social media, he’s largely stayed clear from any legal issues or alcohol problems which plagued him during his time in college. The question for Manziel is whether there is a team out there like the Packers who are willing to accept him with open arms and who love his game for what it is. That’s hard to say right now.

What is clear is there needs to be a change. For years, Cleveland has been the place quarterbacks go to die. In two straight starts, Manziel is beginning to die a slow and horrible death in the abyss that is Cleveland.

If Mike Pettine cares as much about Manziel as Glanville cared for Favre, they’ll figure out a way to save him.

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