Displaying items by tag: Johnny Manziel

The ongoing saga with Johnny Manziel continues, and it appears as though the former Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A & M will go down as one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history because it appears he can't shake his demons.

WFAA's Dale Hansen joined me to talk about Manziel and the downward spiral that he's been on, and what can possibly save him.

Hansen says he doesn't quite understand the public's fascination with "Johnny Football."

"Johnny Manziel to me is the Kim Kardashian of the NFL," Hansen explained. "He's famous, but he hasn't done anything, and I happen to be one of those 'old guys' who doesn't understand it," he says.

He says that quarterbacks and other NFL players have struggled in their early years, but worked hard to be great. Hansen also says that the drinking and the partying for which Manziel has been known for has overshadowed what he's been accomplishing as a football player and he's the only one who can reverse his fortunes.

 Dale Hansen was one of the reporters who broke the story on SMU's cheating scandal in the 1980's. One of the players at the center of the scandal was David Stanley, who succumbed to drugs and alcohol abuse. Dale says he sees some eerie parallels between Manziel and Stanley.

After just two years with the organization, it appears as though the Cleveland Browns will part ways with Johnny Manziel after his latest incident in Dallas.

Scott Petrak, who covers the Browns for the Elyria Chronicle Telegram joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about the 

"If you expect a guy to be your franchise quarterback, you (as a player) have to be 100 percent committed to the job, and Johnny obviously wasn't, and it took a lot of incidents for that to get into the Browns' heads," Petrak said.

Speculation around the league has the Browns cutting Manziel when the new season starts in March.

Owner Jimmy Haslam said it's disappointing any time a first-round pick doesn't pan out, but Scott says it's a little deeper than that.

"A lot of people had given up on him (in the organization), but Jimmy stood by him, liked him, and wanted to give him as many chances as he could."

One of the top executives with the Browns released a statement today on Johnny Manziel...and it could be the beginning of the end for Johnny's career in Cleveland, with his release apparently likely next month according to numerous reports.

Executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown says they've "been clear about expectations" for all players both "on and off the field."

He goes on to say that "Johnny's involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation" of the organization.

There is still no official word on what will happen to Johnny, but Brown says that his status with the team "will be addressed when permitted by league rules."

Cleveland.com and ESPN reports that the Browns intend to release Manziel on March 9th, since they can't release him next week due to salary cap issue.

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(Cleveland Browns, news release) Statement from Cleveland Browns EVP of Football Operations Sashi Brown on Johnny Manziel

"We've been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field. Johnny's continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules. We will have no further comment at this time."

LeBron James is weighing in on Johnny Manziel, after reports that Johnny was "Johnny Party", who was allegedly in disguise in Las Vegas the day before the Browns' final game of the year.

Manziel is in the fold of LeBron's marketing company, LRMR.

Before the Cavaliers played the Washington Wizards...LeBron was asked by reporters in Washington about the latest Johnny news.

"I think it's more of a concern for him individually," James told reporters in Washington D.C. before Wednesday's shootaround. "I'm not sure, I don't know all of the details on it, I really haven't really been all up on it, but I've heard a little about it and it's sort of a distraction."

LeBron says he hopes Johnny will get things put together.

"It's just a distraction for not only himself, but for everyone that's around him, including family, people that represent him, people that are around him," LeBron said. "He'll figure it out at some point, we all hope."

The line of Johnny Manziel questioning started with reporters asking him if he used an alias when he visits Las Vegas.

No, LeBron says, he's just himself.

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(Cleveland Browns) The Cleveland Browns on Sunday night relieved General Manager Ray Farmer and Head Coach Mike Pettine of their duties.

Farmer joined the organization in March of 2013 as the Assistant General Manager and was promoted to General Manager in February of 2014.

Pettine was named the 15th full-time head coach of the Browns on January 23, 2013. In two full seasons with the team, he compiled at 10-22 record.  

Owner Jimmy Haslam released the following statement:

"We greatly appreciate Ray’s and Mike’s dedication and hard work while with the Cleveland Browns. We’ve made this decision because we don’t believe our football team was positioned well for the future. We are all disappointed with where we are and we take full responsibility. We will approach the search for our next football coach and executives to lead our football operations with a clear vision regarding what we need to do to build a successful organization. We will be methodical in looking for strong, smart leaders with high character who are relentlessly driven to improve our football team, willing to look at every resource possible to improve, and who embrace collaboration to ultimately make the best decisions for the Cleveland Browns. We are fully committed to bringing our fans the winning organization they so clearly deserve.”

The Cleveland Browns will faceoff against rival Pittsburgh Steelers this coming Sunday without starting quarterback Johnny Manziel, in a game that has a lot riding on it for both teams. The Steelers with a win could be on their way to the playoffs, but they need the New York Jets to lose. The Browns are battling for the number one overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft with the Tennessee Titans. Chris Trapasso, of CBSSports and NFL.com, joined the Sam Bourquin Show to discuss who the Browns may select if they indeed do get the first overall pick. Trapasso talked about the Browns might not want to bring general manager Ray Farmer back due to his lack of success in the draft in year's past.

With the ever-changing landscape of the National Football League, Sam Bourquin spoke with Zac Jackson from ProFootballTalk.com to talk about Johnny Manziel being placed in the league's concussion protocol, amongst other items.

With Johnny possibly being ruled out for the season finale against the Steelers, the Browns will likely turn to Austin Davis to quarterback the team.

Jackson says moving forward, the Browns will have a decision to make as far as keeping Johnny or letting him loose.

 "It's just disappointing in a season full of disappointments for him (Manziel) and the organization," Jackson explained.

Head coach Mike Pettine says Johnny came into the building complaining of concussion-like symptoms.

 Zac also discussed Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch and his lackluster performance in the Birmingham Bowl against Auburn, as well as the whole stigma surrounding "system quarterbacks.

It's now official from the Browns - quarterback Johnny Manziel has been diagnosed with a concussion, which puts him in the NFL's concussion protocol.

Coach Mike Pettine says Manziel reported concussion-like symptoms this morning.

Further details -- like when he was injured -- were not released, though the team says Manziel took "a couple of hard hits" in Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Pettine says if Johnny is out on Sunday, which now appears likely after a concussion diagnosis, Austin Davis would step up.

(Cleveland Browns, news release) Johnny Manziel was placed in the league's concussion protocol Wednesday afternoon, setting the stage for Austin Davis to likely make his second start of the season Sunday against the Steelers.

Manziel, who took a couple of hard hits in the Browns' loss last week at Kansas City, complained of concussion-like symptoms when he arrived at the Browns facility in Berea on Wednesday and underwent tests. He did not practice, as Davis led the first-team offense during the early portion that was open to reporters.

Davis has appeared in two games, starting one since he signed with the Browns in September. He's 32-of-48 for 307 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Browns lost, 37-3, in his start earlier this month against the Bengals.

The Browns are heading into their game with the Bengals with a record of 2-9, Third-stringer Austin Davis gets the starting nod at quarterback, and they lost to a team without their starting quarterback, running back, and key wide reciever.

Brad Russell voiced his frustrations during the Browns' "Airing of Grievances" during the Average Sports Show.

"The quarterback play isn't even the biggest problem," Russell said. "Josh McCown played his heart out, we know he's a bridge quarterback, but he came in and did his job."

It all comes down to one concept though: finish the game, something the Browns haven't done a whole lot of since their return in 1999.

Casey Drottar from RantSports.com said he had no reaction when Travis Coons' field goal was blocked and returned for a touchdown by the Ravens' Will Hill.

He says many people feel the same way and if the Browns continue their ways, many people will feel the same way.

A new week, a new starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

Coach Mike Pettine says Austin Davis gets the nod as the Browns take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Josh McCown is hurt, and Johnny Manziel is being punished.

Pettine says it's not about the length of that punishment, but it's about a need to see both young quarterbacks.

Davis led the Browns to a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Baltimore replacing the injured McCown, and Pettine says he deserves the chance to start. The Browns also officially signed former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor - but as a wide receiver.

Coach Pettine does say that Pryor being on the roster provides "an insurance policy", should the team need a third quarterback.

The naming of Davis means another name has been added to an infamous Browns jersey display, as the 24th starting Browns quarterback since the return of the team in 1999.

White tape supply running dangerously low. How about some help @theduckbrand pic.twitter.com/xs8thOGH0X

— Brokaw (@BrokawInc) December 2, 2015

Cleveland's Brokaw Advertising jokes that it's running out of white tape adding the names to the jersey.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown was pulled out of Monday night's game with the Ravens when he was injured.

Now, that injury will sideline him for the rest of this season.

"It's the worst case scenario for Josh," Browns head coach Mike Pettine told reporters in a conference call on Monday. "He will miss the remainder of the season with a fracture to his collarbone."

Coach Pettine says that McCown's injury won't require surgery, but the quarterback won't be able to come back before season's end.

"It's not displaced so he does not need surgery, but it will take more than the rest of the season to get it healed up," Pettine says.

Pettine says Josh means a lot to the team.

"He's in the locker room, practice field, game day, just the positive energy that he exuded, and leadership," Pettine says, "I just can't say enough positive things about Josh McCown and what he's done for this football team, and what he means for this football team."

Pettine won't, however, name a starter in McCown's absence.

Second string quarterback Austin Davis led the Browns to a touchdown drive on Monday. Johnny Manziel was active as the third string quarterback, but did not play.

Johnny Manziel will not only no longer be the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback on Monday Night - he's been bounced to third string.

That announcement was made Tuesday in a statement from Browns head coach Mike Pettine.

Pettine says Josh McCown will be the starting quarterback "going forward".

The move comes after video footage surfaced of Manziel partying and drinking in Austin, Texas, reportedly over last weekend.

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(Cleveland Browns, Coach Mike Pettine statement) "Josh McCown will be the starting quarterback on Monday night against the Ravens. I informed the quarterbacks of that decision after I sat down and spoke with Johnny, Flip (John DeFilippo) and Kevin (O'Connell) after practice today. Johnny will be the third quarterback. I've spoken to Ray (Farmer) and Jimmy (Haslam) to inform them of my decision, and they are in full support.

"Everyone in this organization wants what is best for Johnny just like we do for every player in our locker room. I'm especially disappointed in his actions and behavior because he has been working very hard. The improvements from last year to this year have been tremendous but he still has to consistently demonstrate that he has gained a good understanding of what it takes to be successful at the quarterback position on this level. It goes well beyond the field. We are going to continue to support him in every way possible, but at this point, we've decided it's best to go with Josh as the starter going forward."

With the Browns in the bye week after the loss to the Steelers, the team already knows who will be behind center when they finish the season.

The 2 and 8 Browns have tapped quarterback Johnny Manziel to play the last six games of the 2015 season.

The move came just before the NFL announced that it won't discipline Manziel for an October incident with his girlfriend in Avon.

Head coach Mike Pettine says that not only has Manziel's play improved through the loss to the Steelers.

"We understand where our season is at this point," Pettine told reporters in Berea on Tuesday, "and this is a kid that we've invested a lot in...and this will give us an opportunity to see how far he's come, and what he's capable of."

Manziel says he's excited to start, and says he's told coach Pettine that he'll be on his best behavior.

"I let him now that I'm not going to do anything that's going to be a distraction to this team, or be an embarrassment to the organization," Manziel says, "and that was the thing that he stressed to me as well, so he kind of stressed that back."

The Browns play next a week from Monday night at FirstEnergy Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens.

Will Johnny Manziel be ready to play - if needed - for the Browns this weekend against the Arizona Cardinals?

There's a little matter of the NFL coming to talk to him about that incident with his girlfriend on I-90.

Coach Mike Pettine won't give the exact date of the meeting between his backup and the league, but it will happen soon.

"I'll put it this way, it's imminent," Pettine told reporters at his Wednesday press conference. "There's a sense of urgency to it, and that meeting is imminent."

Coach Pettine says he doesn't know at this time if Manziel will be available Sunday if needed. He's been taking first-team reps this week.

Starter Josh McCown is still nursing a sore shoulder, but Pettine says he's "day to day" and could start on Sunday, even missing practices.