Johnny Manziel‘s agent has publicly parted ways with him and expressed concern about the quarterback’s future, and he’s not the only one close to Manziel who hopes the 23-year-old gets serious about getting help. According to Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News, Manziel’s family is concerned for his well-being, with his father Paul Manziel suggesting that his son has twice declined to be admitted to area rehab facilities in the last week.
“I truly believe if they can’t get him help, he won’t live to see his 24th birthday,” the elder Manziel said.
According to Hairopoulos’ report, Manziel’s family attempted last Saturday afternoon to get him to agree to go to the Enterhealth Ranch addiction facility in Van Alstyne, Texas. However, he refused to stay there. Paul Manziel said that he tried this Tuesday to have his son admitted to Carrollton Springs Hospital, but that Johnny was allowed to leave.
[RELATED: Browns expected to cut Johnny Manziel on March 9th]
Carrollton Springs is a psychiatric and chemical dependency hospital, working with patients who suffer from mental illness and/or addiction. Paul Manziel told Hairopoulos that he was upset that Johnny was allowed to leave after Paul told a Denton County Sherriff officer that he believed his son to be suicidal.
Manziel previously checked himself into a rehab facility in 2015 voluntarily, entering a program to treat possible alcohol dependence.
In a statement issued today, agent Erik Burkhardt announced that he was ending his professional relationship with the Browns quarterback, suggesting that he had spoken at length to Manziel’s family, with all parties except the QB himself agreeing that he ought to seek help.
“Though I will remain a friend and Johnny supporter, and he knows I have worked tirelessly to arrange a number of professional options for him to continue to pursue, it has become painfully obvious that his future rests solely in his own hands,” Burkhardt said. “His family and I have gone to great lengths to outline the steps we feel he must take to get his life in order. Accountability is the foundation of any relationship, and without it, the function of my work is counterproductive.”
Police recently investigated a January dispute between Manziel and his ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley, but ultimately elected not to file charges. Crowley told police that Manziel struck her several times and seemed to be on drugs, and that he also told her “shut up or I’ll kill us both” after forcing her into a car and dragging her by her hair. Manziel denied those allegations.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Here’s a glaring opportunity for every politician who says they are concerned with Mental Health to get this kid help. Will they? Will Obama step into this to save Manziel. I doubt it. Politicians are all talk and no action. Who is to say Manziel couldn’t get a gun and take out innocent people?
Problem there is they jump now “save” Manziel, where are they when many others without millions of dollars could use the same help? Double edged sword, when and who do you help and not help? Do you help Johnny because he is in the spotlight? How many people could Johnny help himself by making the right choice in his own?
Because he’s a multi-million dollar player and in the public spotlight (largely from us own destructive actions), politicians and the President are supposed to step in force him to get treatment?! That seems ridiculous!
Agreed, this isn’t the right way to show you care about mental illness.
Yeah I remember when obama ran on the platform of giving mental health support to rich drug addicts. It’s not like we have a large amount of vets sent to a war for oil on bad intel and then they came back with PTSD and no support thanks to republican votes. I also wish obama would put an end to republican gerrymandering that took poor areas and made their votes worthless so they aren’t represented and couldn’t get the help they needed as drugs destroy their community. But you know we have rules and obama isn’t a dictator. If manziel wants to take out innocent people it shouldn’t be a problem since he isn’t from syria seeking a place to flee from people destroying their homes and killing anyone who doesn’t run
How in the helll is it the responsibility of POTUS to get Manziel help?
Good For Him! Who’s to say he even has a problem? Ditch that drama queen and move on!
That’s quite a telling statement for someone’s father to make publicly. Manziel’s story is no longer a comedic sideshow and is veering closer to something more akin to tragedy. At this point, it’s getting less and less likely he ever puts on an NFL uniform again.
Trump make America great again
He’s right up J. Jones’ alley
I am glad to see that people close to him are being honest about his problem. The last Manziel needs is to pretend everything is ok. Alcoholism is a bitch and it takes a major commitment to overcome the desease. I hope he gets help before he ends up dead or in prison.