The Cleveland Browns have hired Hue Jackson as their next head coach, and his first order of business could be to get rid of Johnny Manziel and the distraction he has become off the field. According to several reports, it is clear Jackson wants no part of Johnny Drama.
Manziel was drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, but has made more headlines for his actions off the field than on it. In 14 games, Manziel has completed just 57 percent of his passes for 1,675 yards and seven touchdowns, while fumbling seven times and throwing seven interceptions. There are two years left on his rookie contract, but he won’t get a chance to finish it with the Browns.
If the Browns cut Manziel, they will be on the hook for $4.62 million against the cap, whereas he would count only $2.25 million against the cap if he stays on the team. That leads many around the league to believe the Browns will try to trade the quarterback, and there might actually be a market for him.
With the Manziel era seemingly over before it began, the Browns will once again be searching for a quarterback, which has become something of an annual occurrence in Cleveland. Josh McCown and Austin Davis are on the roster, but neither is a franchise quarterback. That means the Browns could look to grab one with the second overall pick this May in the NFL Draft.
From the alcohol rehab stint to subsequent party photos, it’s clear that Manziel has a problem. He has blown off the team, missed team functions and even went out in a disguise to avoid being detected. The Browns tried to offer him help, but Manziel clearly has no interest in getting better. Perhaps a change of scenery would be beneficial to him.
The question now is which team would take a chance on Manziel given his off-field antics and poor play on the field? It looks like we are about to find out because Manziel is done in Cleveland.
