Johnny Manziel - Pro Football Rumors

Johnny Manziel Will Volunteer For Drug Tests

February 3rd, 2017 at 2:51pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s going to be extremely hard for any team to trust Johnny Manziel and that’s why the quarterback is taking extra steps to try and repair his image. To show that he is serious this time around, Manziel plans to volunteer for testing under the NFL’s drug policy as a part of his comeback attempt, a source tells Alex Marvez of the Sporting News.

[RELATED: Manziel Says He’s Sober]

The skeptic’s take on this would be that Manziel is simply volunteering for something that would be required of him anyway. Now, considered a “Stage Two” offender under the league’s drug policy, he would already be subject to random drug testing if signed by an NFL team. It remains to be seen whether Manziel is going to offer himself up to an even more rigorous random testing standard in the style of USADA’s monitoring.

Manziel has started working with quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr. to polish his skills and get back into football shape, Marvez hears. This week, he appeared in Houston to sign autographs but he declined to speak to the press.

Johnny Manziel Says He’s Sober, Looking Towards Comeback

January 21st, 2017 at 9:50am CST by Ben Levine

Finally some good news on the Johnny Manziel front. Yesterday, Manziel admitted to ESPN’s Ed Werder that he’s sober and looking towards a comeback.

“I refuse to let my entire life of sports from the age of 4 be squandered by partying,” Manziel said. “I just got sick of it. One day I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror and realized I could really help people in the position I’m in.

“I love sports, I love football and when you take something away from yourself you realize it the hard way. The happiness from doing it sober has been ASTRONOMICAL. Beyond my wildest imagination and once that continued other good things started happening in my life and it just clicked.”

On Thursday, the free agent quarterback tweeted that he hadn’t “been this happy in a long time,” and the 24-year-old thanked those who helped him through his “rough patches” in 2016. When asked what his next step was, Manziel said: “PLAY FOOTBALL. A pre season game, anything I don’t care what it is. Only need one team to believe in me and I’ll do anything to make that a possibility.”

2016 wasn’t a great year for the former Heisman Trophy winner. The Browns finally cut bait with the former first-rounder in March following a tumultuous two seasons with the organization. Manziel subsequently hired super agent Drew Rosenhaus for representation. However, the agent dropped his client following reports that Manziel’s partying was “out of control.”

Shortly thereafter, the NFL announced that they had suspended Manziel four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Since then, we’ve heard that CFL teams could have interest in the embattled quarterback. In late December, it was reported that Manziel had reached an agreement with prosecutors to dismiss a domestic violence charge against him.

Following a successful career at Texas A&M, Manziel struggled during his two seasons in Cleveland. In 14 career games (eight starts), Manziel connected on 57-percent of his passes for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The speedy quarterback also ran for 259 yards and one touchdown on 46 carries.

Johnny Manziel Reaches Deal With Prosecutors

December 2nd, 2016 at 11:06am CST by Zachary Links

Prosecutors have finalized an agreement with Johnny Manziel to dismiss a domestic violence charge against him, as The Associated Press writes. The former Heisman Trophy winner will have to meet certain conditions for a year before the charge is formally dropped.

This agreement may remove one hurdle in Manziel’s path to an NFL return, but there are obviously a number of issues standing in his way. For one, the league reportedly has a six-game suspension waiting for Manziel in response to this charge, even though he will not serve jail time for it. Manziel must also show that he is making a real commitment to sobriety. Over the last two years, Manziel has made headlines for all the wrong reasons and he has yet to follow through on any of his pledges to get better. If Manziel can’t stay on the straight and narrow, no NFL team will roll the dice on him.

In the last year, two different agents have dropped Manziel. His last agent, Drew Rosenhaus, claimed that there was NFL interest in Manziel as recently as March, though I’m skeptical. Even if that is true, Manziel’s situation has deteriorated even further in the last nine months and any interest from clubs has surely waned.

Manziel has told people close to him that he is eyeing a 2017 NFL comeback.

Browns Notes: Collins, RG3, Manziel

November 18th, 2016 at 7:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Browns head coach Hue Jackson believes it would a “coup” for his club to re-sign linebacker Jamie Collins, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal details, and cornerback Joe Haden agrees. “It’s just been so many years of letting really good talent walk out the door,” Haden said. “If you really want to have something, you’ve got to keep them on board. Letting him out of the door, that would just be like the same thing over and over again.”

As of early November, Cleveland had not engaged in contract talks with Collins, whom it acquired from the Patriots days before the trade deadline in exchange for what will likely turn out to be a conditional third-round pick. However, the Browns would like to extend either Collins or wide receiver Terrelle Pryor soon so that the franchise tag remains in play for the other when free agency rolls around. Collins has denied a report that indicated he wanted “Von Miller money,” but he is reportedly aiming to top fellow linebacker Luke Kuechly‘s $12.36MM annual average.

Here’s more on the Browns:

Quarterback Robert Griffin III will start practicing next week, Jackson told reporters, including Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link), today. However, RG3 has yet to be officially cleared for contact, so it’s an open question as to what level of exertion he’ll be able to demonstrate. Cleveland would be able to bring Griffin back from injured reserve if it chooses to do so, and the club has given every indication that it will do just that.
Former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel settled his civil suit with ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley months ago, and though no money was involved in the agreement, Manziel was issued a two-year protective order, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. That turn of events likely helped to bring about yesterday’s tentative settlement between Manziel and prosecutors, a deal that should see the quarterback’s charges dismissed.
While the two settlements represent good news for Manziel, not everything is rosy for the embattled quarterback. If Manziel ends up getting signed by an NFL club, he could be facing league penalties, as NFL chief disciplinary officer Todd Jones once told Jane McManus of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that Manziel would be looking at a six-game suspension.

Latest On Johnny Manziel

November 17th, 2016 at 9:59am CST by Zachary Links

Johnny Manziel has reached a tentative deal with prosecutors for a dismissal of his domestic assault case, according to Schuyler Dixon of The Associated Press. Manziel’s case stems from allegations brought forth by his ex-girlfriend.

The 23-year-old was/is facing a misdemeanor assault charge that calls for up to a year in jail and a $4K fine. Defense attorney Jim Darnell says the deal still needs to be finalized, but he left a Thursday morning hearing feeling encouraged. Another hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 1, when the case could be settled and put to bed.

At the moment, Manziel is technically free to sign with any team and is not under suspension. However, he may still face discipline for the aforementioned DV case, even if charges are dropped. Furthermore, teams are probably going to steer clear from Manziel until he can demonstrate that his demons are behind him and that he will focus on football. So far, he has done nothing to ease such concerns.

Manziel’s off-the-field problems have prompted his father to say that he should jailed and led two agents to drop him in the last year. His last agent, Drew Rosenhaus, claimed that there was NFL interest in Manziel as recently as March. Of course, it’s fair to take a skeptical view of Rosenhaus’ comments.

Back in July, Manziel privately told people that he was eyeing a 2017 NFL comeback and had effectively given up on 2016.

Johnny Manziel Has Suspension Lifted

October 6th, 2016 at 10:19am CST by Zachary Links

The NFL informed clubs on the transaction wire that free agent quarterback Johnny Manziel‘s suspension has been lifted as scheduled, Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets. However, Manziel is still subject to potential discipline under the personal conduct policy stemming from an assault allegation from his ex-girlfriend earlier this year.

Of course, Manziel’s suspension was never the biggest barrier to his NFL return. The former Browns quarterback has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons recently, leading Cleveland to cut him loose this past offseason and substance abuse appears to be a major problem for him. His off-the-field problems have prompted his father to say that he should be put in jail and led two agents to drop him in the last year.

His last agent, Drew Rosenhaus, claimed that there was NFL interest in Manziel as recently as March. However, teams will need to see that Manziel has his life in order before even considering him at this juncture.

With just two accrued seasons, Manziel is eligible for a practice squad exception. If he were to sign a p-squad deal, he could earn as little as $6,900 per week.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

CFL Open To Johnny Manziel

August 25th, 2016 at 11:55am CST by Zachary Links

Could we see Johnny Manziel in the CFL? It’s not clear whether the former Browns quarterback is interested in making his comeback north of the border, but if he is, the CFL commissioner says he won’t necessarily stand in the way, as Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com writes.

“I rely primarily on the assessment of the team,” CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge said. “It is their charge to evaluate the talent and to bring that talent forward. To be candid, if there is a situation that we believe warrants additional input, we certainly want to provide that to the team. We’re obviously charged with making sure that the integrity of the league and the integrity of our brand is perpetuated.”

The CFL commissioner has the power to intervene in any signing and Orridge has exercised that power in the past. Earlier this summer, he reportedly blocked the Saskatchewan Roughriders from signing Greg Hardy, though a CFL spokesperson denied that in a statement.

Manziel is on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ negotiation list, meaning that the franchise has the first opportunity to sign him before any other CFL team if he shows interest in playing there. Reportedly, Manziel is working on cleaning up his off-the-field life before resuming focus on the NFL, but the CFL could be a wise pit stop to show teams that he can be a worthwhile addition.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Colston, Jaguars, Manziel, Tebow

August 13th, 2016 at 12:45pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the NFL…

Free agent wideout Marques Colston is still rehabbing a shoulder injury, and the veteran is planning on exploring playing opportunities once he’s healthy. “Once I’m done with rehab, I’ll see what’s out there,” Colston told Aaron Kasinitz of PennLive.com. The Saints‘ all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns was released by the team earlier this offseason.
ESPN analyst (and former NFL general manager) Mark Dominik told SiriusXM’s Alex Marvez that the Jaguars could be looking to make a deal. The team is very deep at defensive line and tight end, and Dominik says the front office is hoping to trade some of their depth before the end of the preseason (Twitter link).
A source told Carlos Greer of the New York Post that Johnny Manziel is intending to clean up his act before pursuing another NFL opportunity in 2017. “He knows he’s hit rock bottom and he’s giving himself a year to get sober and get ready for football. He wants to play again,” said the source. “He really wants to turn things around and make people proud of him again. It’s not going to end this way. He really wants to make that effort. He knows what he’s gifted with … The spotlight got to him.”
Former major league catcher Chad Moeller can’t envision Tim Tebow spending more than two years in the minors. Rather, Moeller believes it’s more majors-or-bust for the former NFL quarterback. “Now, do I think a team is going to send him to rookie ball? No,” Moeller told Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “You’re taking a 28-year-old. You know what you’re getting. It’s either going to work or it’s not, and it’s going to have to be fast-tracked.”
Moeller also noted that Tebow needs to be wary of teams simply signing the former NFL player in order to sell tickets. Rather, the former catcher said Tebow is seeking an organization that would want him for his talents. “He knows he’s partially a sideshow to start with,” Moeller said. “But he does want a team that actually thinks this is for real and thinks this is someone that can help us.”

Cowboys Not Interested In Johnny Manziel

August 12th, 2016 at 11:20am CST by Zachary Links

No surprise here, but the Cowboys are not interested in signing Johnny Manziel at this time, team executive vice president Stephen Jones said in a radio interview on Friday.

[RELATED: Latest On Greg Hardy]

“No, there’s no chance,” Jones told CBS’ Tiki and Tierney (via Twitter links). “Obviously Johnny needs to get his hands around his life…He needs to do things that make him a good person off field before he can ever have chance of being successful in our league. I’m sure he’ll get another chance. But, at the moment, it certainly won’t be in Dallas.”

This offseason, the Cowboys watched Demarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, and Rolando McClain all get slapped with suspensions. Last year, the team dealt with the walking headache that is Greg Hardy, an experience that owner Jerry Jones did not enjoy. The Cowboys will surely continue to gamble on players when they feel it is a worthwhile risk, but nothing about Manziel screams “worthwhile” at this time.

With his recent history of off-the-field transgressions and possible substance abuse issues, football is probably the furthest thing from the minds of Manziel and those around him. Manziel gave up on playing football in 2016 and has shifted his attention to getting his life together with the hope of playing in 2017. Some reports had Manziel’s friends questioning whether he ever wanted to play football again, but the QB shot that notion down in a recent statement.

“I’m actually doing well. I have good friends around me supporting what I do and I try to support them in what they want to do,” the statement read. “I’m not saying I’m never drinking again, but for now just mostly being healthy. I’ve got a killer gym in my house and I can spend time working out. I’m interested in doing a lot of different things in my life — including football — but, right now, I’m just exploring options and waiting to see what the future holds.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Manziel, Edelman, Bailey, Lions

July 17th, 2016 at 8:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

The prospect of his NFL career currently exists as a sore conversation topic for Johnny Manziel. The 23-year-old former Browns quarterback, according to Kent Babb of the Washington Post, orders the subject changed when his playing career or the NFL comes up during discussions with his friends.

Many of Manziel’s friends do not know if he wants to play football again. One of Manziel’s close confidants told Babb in May that he did not expect the former Heisman Trophy-winning passer to attempt a comeback. Recent indications pointed to Manziel reconsidering a comeback in 2017. A substance abuse-induced suspension will shelve the free agent for four games in 2016, but the Texas A&M product seemed a long shot to land with a team even before the league handed down that ban.

Manziel, though, sent a statement to the Washington Post indicating he’s still interested in playing football despite his myriad legal troubles and various concerns emerging about his well-being.

“I’m actually doing well. I have good friends around me supporting what I do and I try to support them in what they want to do,” the statement read. “I’m not saying I’m never drinking again, but for now just mostly being healthy. I’ve got a killer gym in my house and I can spend time working out. I’m interested in doing a lot of different things in my life — including football — but, right now, I’m just exploring options and waiting to see what the future holds.”

Here’s more from around the league.

Julian Edelman is unsure when he’ll be cleared to play, Chris Mason of the Boston Herald reports. The eighth-year Patriots wide receiver suffered a Jones fracture in his foot last season and underwent surgery during the spring, his second on that troublesome left foot. The 30-year-old slot staple missed seven games for the Pats last season and underwent the additional corrective procedure despite hauling in 17 passes for 153 yards in two playoff games.
It appears Stedman Bailey won’t be serving in a non-playing role with the Rams this season after he previously planned to function in that capacity. The former West Virginia standout returned to his alma mater and will work as a student assistant in Morgantown this season, according to an ESPN.com report. The 25-year-old receiver saw a drive-by shooting derail his NFL career and then observed the Rams waive him, as it still seems bleak he’ll play again. Bailey will re-enroll at school to complete his degree, although he’s not giving up on returning to the NFL. “Even though my playing career isn’t over yet, this gives me more time to heal so I can make a return,” Bailey said in a statement released by the university.
Beyond Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick and fullback Michael Burton, the Lions will have a host of fringe ball-carriers competing for their final two running back jobs — assuming Detroit keeps four tailbacks. Ridley looks like the favorite to win the No. 3 job, which Tim Twenyman of DetroitLions.com categorizes as a change-of-pace back. Joining George Winn, Zach Zenner and rookie seventh-rounder Dwayne Washington, the 27-year-old Ridley played in nine games last year with the Jets but received just 36 carries.
Of course, the Lions’ backfield dynamic could change if they sign Arian Foster, who is set to visit Detroit this week.