At this point, I’ve grown tired of seeing Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel trending for all the wrong reasons. Not angry, nor even annoyed anymore. Just tired.
I assumed his lengthy stint in rehab last year was the first step in his finally putting the hard-partying ways behind him. That this current offseason is somehow worse than one in which he spent time in treatment is mind-blowing and, frankly, it’s just getting exhausting.
Based on the reaction of Cleveland Twitter this past weekend, it doesn’t look like I’m alone in these feelings.
After a story was released Saturday claiming police were investigating a domestic dispute between Manziel and his ex-girlfriend, it seemed many Browns fans had reached their breaking point. It’s gotten so bad that Twitter user @Reflog_18 started a “Johnny Free February” movement, where fans pledged not to tweet about Manziel this month until he’s cut from the team. That said movement ended up being covered by the New York Post should tell you whether or not it succeeded in getting people’s attention.
So, I’m sick of hearing about Manziel’s exploits, and it sure sounds like a majority of the fanbase is too. If I were to bet, I think the Browns themselves have reached this point as well, and whatever shreds of hope there may have been to salvage their first-round pick were likely destroyed after this latest incident.
It should be noted I had trouble believing anyone with Cleveland truly and honestly felt the team should keep Manziel around next season. Though owner Jimmy Haslam and new coach Hue Jackson have made tepid comments implying there may be a small chance for the problematic QB, there haven’t really been any sort of ringing endorsements.
After this past weekend, I’d expect Haslam’s comments from last week to be one of the last times the Browns address Manziel for the time being. Unless it involves a statement discussing his removal from the team, that is.
Quite frankly, the “Billy Manziel Goes to Vegas” episode should’ve been the last straw. However, that he’s still getting into hot water even after that does nothing but clarify the fact he’s beyond saving right now. Though Haslam claimed the relationship between team and QB was “fixable“, it’s safe to say this is no longer the case.
The fact is Cleveland simply can’t afford to have “Browns quarterback” tagged in front of Manziel’s name every time he gets in trouble. I can only imagine the entire front office is currently counting down the days until February 8, when the QB can officially be waived.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Haslam still had hope he could trade Manziel for something, anything at all. However, it sure seems like every story which has popped up in the past few weeks has done nothing but derail those aspirations. Outside of Jerry Jones, who in their right mind would offer Cleveland a trade in order to get a walking PR disaster in return?
In all seriousness, this weekend’s incident does nothing but hammer home the fact that Manziel has issues which are very serious and desperately need to be addressed. It’s impossible to deny any of this anymore. Cleveland has tried many times to get him to work on these demons to no avail. Numerous times, the Browns gave him another chance despite getting pressure from the media to cut him.
After this latest incident, cutting him is officially the only option left. One would hope such a move would finally knock some sense into Manziel, giving him a clear message that the only team which appeared willing to tolerate his antics is finally washing its hands of him.
Manziel is someone who desperately needs a reality check, and Cleveland can deliver exactly that by getting rid of him. If there was any doubt such a move was coming, I’d like to think it was erased this past weekend.
