Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was pulled over by Avon, Ohio, police Monday after an out-of-hand domestic argument, according to Joe Pagonakis of WEWS-TV. Per the police report, Manziel was driving erratically and his girlfriend, Colleen Elizabeth Crowley, tried to exit his car after throwing his wallet out the window. Crowley told police that Manziel pushed her head into a window. Police found an abrasion on her arm, but they determined it came from Manziel trying to keep her from leaving the vehicle while it was on the road. Both Manziel and Crowley admitted to drinking, but neither was deemed intoxicated and Crowley elected against pressing charges. They were then allowed to leave the scene in Manziel’s car.
Crowley subsequently shrugged off the incident on Instagram, writing (via the Akron Beacon Journal’s Nate Ulrich on Twitter), “Fortunately it was just an argument, it was private, and we are all good!”
Manziel echoed Crowley’s sentiment in a series of tweets (1; 2; 3).
“Colleen and I got into a dumb public argument on the way home Monday afternoon. It probably looked more interesting than it was and I know I would stop and check if I saw a couple arguing on the side of the road,” Manziel wrote. “It was embarrassing but not serious and when we talked to the police and they realized everything was alright and I was sober, we went home together and everything is fine.”
Browns general manager Ray Farmer issued a statement on behalf of the organization: “We were aware of the situation. It is a matter that we take seriously and have expressed our concerns to Johnny directly. Those conversations will remain private and we will refrain from further comment at this time.”
The NFL is aware of the situation, but it declined to comment on it, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
Given that Manziel spent 10 weeks of the offseason in rehab for alcohol issues, an already serious situation carries extra weight. The fact that a domestic dispute was involved makes it that much more of a problem.
This latest episode doesn’t bode well for Manziel’s future in Cleveland, Smith opines, as the 2014 first-round pick’s career has so far been defined by errors both on and off the field. Nevertheless, Manziel will be active for Sunday’s game against Denver, Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com reports (via Twitter).