These days, Johnny Football is more like Johnny Golf. While giving an interview at a country club, former Texas A&M star Johnny Manziel confirmed that he’s no longer focused on returning to the field. 
“In the past, probably, is the way I’d characterize it,” Manziel said (via Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). “I’ve finally got to a point where I’m trying to achieve happiness in life, not happiness on the football field.”
Manziel, 28 in December, has not played in the NFL the 2015 season. At one point in time, the Saints were rumored to have interest in him, but there has been no real chatter about Manziel in NFL circles this offseason. Manziel was also widely connected to the XFL, but nothing materialized between the quarterback and Vince McMahon‘s short-lived reboot.
“I know a lot of people probably want me to come back and play and give it another chance, but I don’t know, as far as being a person and figuring out life as a young adult — trying to make it and figure it out — if I’ve ever been in a better place than I’m in right now,” Manziel explained. “I can honestly say I’m happy and I’m doing the right things to try and put a smile on my face every day, and that means more to me than going out and grinding on a football field.”
After capturing the Heisman Trophy, the Aggies star wasn’t able to do much as a pro. In two seasons, the Browns’ first-round pick appeared in 14 games (eight starts) and completed 57% of his passes for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also tacked on another 259 rushing yards off of 46 totes.
Meanwhile, off the field, he’s been embroiled in a number of controversies, including a 2016 investigation into domestic violence allegations. Later, he was suspended for four games in the 2016 season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
With football in the rear view mirror, Manziel is making some impressive strides on the links. He’s playing six days a week in Arizona and estimates that he’s down to a 2-handicap.
he saw Kap and AB getting headlines so he figured he’d get in and take some of the “terrible player who still wants to play” spotlight.
well terrible is the wrong word. “guys who no one wants to sign” would be a better name for that group
No, terrible was the correct characterization.
Putting Kap in the same breath as Manziel and AB is offensive, but I get why you wrote it.
Yeah, I don’t “get” why some people have to make every QB article about Kaepernick. As to offensive, AB is a total head case and borderline felon/rapist, Manziel has had issues with the law, but I don’t remember Kaepernick having any problems staying out of jail.
You see, racists and xenophobes allow the things that scare them to live “rent free” in their own heads, so the way they handle this massive insecurity is by focusing their hate on a particular person, or movement, because their anger and fear is the only thing that keeps them from crawling up into a small ball and crying their eyes out. It’s sad, really. Must be exhausting to carry around all that hate.
admittedly it doesnt look to great as a comment in hindsight. just want to clarify that its nothing about his actions, meerly about the lack of games he’s played for the number of storylines he’s gotten. that happens a lot with guys who have issues like the other two, and Kap is obviously an odd case so doesnt fit as well admittedly. I appologize for how that comment comes off. the only reason why i dont lump more guys into the group – like say Luck, who also gets a lot of headlines for not playing – is simply because of the comparative desire to play. it turns out a lot of guys who are out of action but get headlines arent there for good reasons, while Kap’s are much more football related.
Kaep took a knee because he was butthurt about being benched for Blaine Gabbert. He just came up with the whole protest thing as revisionist history to get attention for himself.
oh they’re hardly the same scenario each, dont get me wrong, but the fact remains that they stick around in the news despite their being no real news about them and it being fairly clear that no one wants them. the reasons vary – Kap is bad and out of practice, Manziel is a screwoff, and AB is mental – but tha fact is that they all get more news then they deserve as guys who likely arent playing again – or at least arent as likely to as reporters would suggest.
He was never good. Ever.
Not even his Heisman winning season?
Correct. Same as Tebow. NEVER a good player, but a lot of athletic people can be good in college. You need much more than athleticism to be good in the pros. Neither of them had it.
That is what happens when you waste God given talent. He choose partying, not putting I the work and being an arrogant jerk rather than football. He threw away millions of dollars. Hopefully he has learned from this.
Or achieving against all odds.
Manziel is a midget with a drinking problem, who was being recruited as a punt returner..
and he turned it into a Heisman trophy and 1st rnd selection because he made a great decision to do his own thing at A&M
I think you’re looking at this the wrong way.
Yeah, I don’t think that Manziel will ever be confused with Jerry Rice for his dedication and hard work.
Looking at the headline I would say it was never in the present. What a waste…
What’s he doing for income these days I wonder?
I googled to see his net worth, and it’s listed at $6 million. I obviously have no idea how accurate that is, but if it’s even close, he shouldn’t have any money worries for a while.
Of course, considering his past, the key word is “shouldn’t.”
Mommy and daddy are worth $50 mill. If he gets $500k allowance he should be ok. Put what he hasn’t snorted smoked or drank of his own money into an investment he will be fine.
That would certainly be the responsible thing to do!
Then again…
“I know a lot of people probably want me to come back and play and give it another chance”.
Which galaxy was he looking at through his telescope when he said that?
all those people who bought Manziel jerseys and weren’t able to get them returned.
I know Manziel gets a lot of criticism, and it’s well deserved, but if this guy took football seriously, he would have been a good QB. I remember his first game against Cincinnati, week 14 I think, you could tell he never learned the playbook or didn’t understand the playbook. He was really bad. The next year, he probably gave 50% effort and was better, but in no way was he ever focused on football.
Disagree….his college ball “out athlete” everybody worked a bit at aTm but this kid could never grasp a playbook, or reading defenses, or leading, or being a responsible adult.
He was a real good college player whose skills did not translate well to the nfl and it showed. Even if he took it seriously, I see him no better than trubisky or cutler…..
That’s an insult to both Trubisky and Cutler. 2 pro bowl QB’s compared to what? Johnny dumba$$?
You can lose your career.
You can lose your reputation.
You can lose your money.
They can never take away all of the models and high end college girls.
At least, he has that…unless he was too drunk to remember…and then, he’s left with nothing, I guess.
“I know a lot of people probably want me to come back and play…”. Just goes to show that Manzel hasn’t given up the recreational materials yet. Johnny, nooobody wants to see you come back. Most didn’t want you in the first place.
Maybe he can get an analyst job for college football games on Fox like bozo Brady Quinn