Johnny Manziel

Browns Eliminated Manziel’s Guarantees

July 11th, 2016 at 1:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Recently, when the NFL hit Johnny Manziel with a four-game suspension, some wondered whether that action would void out the remaining guaranteed money in his rookie contract with the Browns. As it turns out, those guarantees were already wiped out months ago. Before the Browns cut Manziel earlier this year, the team successfully took his guarantees off the books, sources tell Mike Florio of PFT.

Surprisingly, the NFL Players Association did not put up a fight when Cleveland decided against paying Manziel is guaranteed money. The union is always aggressive in matters like this, but it seems like the Browns’ case was virtually incontrovertible. The Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates that a team can void out guarantees under certain circumstances, including “a failure or refusal to report, practice, or play” or leaving the team without written consent. Manziel has run afoul of those rules multiple times with the Browns, including his 2015 trip to Las Vegas.

Due to his many indiscretions, Manziel has cost himself $2.173MM in guaranteed cash and has put his football future in serious doubt.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Johnny Manziel Not Eyeing 2016 NFL Comeback

July 2nd, 2016 at 8:45am CST by Sam Robinson

SATURDAY, 8:45am: For what it’s worth, Manziel does have one offer… from the Arena Football League. Commissioner Scott Butera told TMZ that his league would welcome the embattled quarterback with open arms.

“We could provide a strong platform for him to demonstrate that he is back,” Butera said (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). “We would also work with him and provide him whatever help he needed to live a healthy life.”

Unfortunately, there’s only about a month left of the AFL season, so it’s uncertain whether Manziel could even see the field in 2016.

THURSDAY, 6:29pm: The NFL suspended Johnny Manziel for four games this season for a violation its substance abuse policy, and the former first-round pick has indicated privately his best chance at a return to the league will be in 2017, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

This doesn’t come as a shock to those around the league, Fowler notes, with most categorizing the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback as not being in game shape. A personal-conduct penalty could soon follow Manziel’s most recent ban, with the recently cut passer having been charged with misdemeanor assault for a January incident involving his ex-girlfriend in Dallas.

An NFL executive also appeared to categorize the league as distancing itself from Manziel from a football sense, telling Fowler, “It’s about getting his life on track. That’s it.” The fact that Manziel did not display much on the field won’t help his effort to revive what’s been one of the more catastrophic careers in memory.

He carries a 57% career completion rate and has thrown seven career touchdown passes compared to seven interceptions and couldn’t stay on the field with the Browns last season due to off-the-field issues. Manziel will have a difficult time convincing a team he’s employable next season based on the events of the past two years.

The Browns, though, look to have saved some money as a result of the suspension.

Cleveland cut the maligned first-round pick in March and was on the hook for the remaining guaranteed money in his rookie deal as a result of Manziel clearing waivers. Manziel’s $1.17MM 2016 salary is fully guaranteed, as is $1MM of his 2017 salary. But Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports the contract contemplates voiding those guarantees for a number of reasons, with an NFL-imposed suspension being one. In that case, the team would not have to pay the remaining $2.17MM.

The Browns waiving Manziel before he was suspended clouds this issue somewhat, however.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Johnny Manziel, Sheldon Richardson Suspended

June 30th, 2016 at 11:56am CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent quarterback Johnny Manziel will be suspended four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, according to TMZ. Meanwhile, Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson will miss the 2016 season opener, as the NFL has announced that Richardson will be suspended one game for violating the personal conduct policy.

The TMZ report specifies that Manziel’s suspension is for substance abuse, but Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports that Manziel will be subject to the NFL’s personal conduct policy if he returns to the league. Manziel was involved in a domestic violence incident with his ex-girlfriend earlier this year, and is thought to be the subject of an NFL investigation. Earlier this week, Manziel’s father spoke out about his son, labeling him a “druggie” and indicating that he needs help and rehabilitation.

Clearly, this suspension only adds to any reluctance a club would have when considering signing Manziel. Manziel does need to be on an NFL roster to serve the ban — in other words, even if he signs in Week 5, he’ll still have to sit out four games. But if he doesn’t return to the league in 2016 (which at this point seems likely), the suspension will not roll over to 2017, according to TMZ. There will be no appeal of the ban, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link), because Manziel has refused to cooperate with the appeals process.

Richardson, meanwhile, avoided jail time for a July 2015 incident in which he was charged with resisting arrest, speeding, and running a red light, but he won’t evade punishment from the NFL. This marks the second suspension for Richarson, who also missed the first four games of last season after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The former-first round pick will lose nearly $475K in base salary as a result of the suspension.

New York faces the Bengals in Week 1, so the club will have to count on other defensive lineman to compensate for the loss of Richardson. As Roster Resource shows, Gang Green has a solid stable of lineman it can rely on, including last year’s first-round pick Leonard Williams, All Pro Muhammad Wilkerson, and free agent signings Steve McLendon, Jarvis Jenkins, and Shelby Harris, among others.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Von, Int’l, Steelers, Manziel

June 29th, 2016 at 8:38pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The $87MM in guarantees on Andrew Luck‘s new contract should help franchise-tagged Broncos linebacker Von Miller in his quest to land a long-term accord, tweets Mark Dominik of ESPN. Although the Broncos and Miller only have until July 15 to reach a deal, they had ceased discussions as of last Friday. Miller – the reigning Super Bowl MVP – rejected a six-year, $114.5MM offer from the Broncos because it featured $39.8MM in guarantees, an amount the four-time Pro Bowler deemed unsatisfactory. If the two sides don’t find common ground and strike an agreement in the next two-plus weeks, Miller’s options would be to sign his $14.129MM franchise tender and play 2016 under it or sit out the season.

Extra Points: PEDs, Manziel, Seahawks, Rams

June 28th, 2016 at 8:46pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The NFL Players’ Association doesn’t believe the league is right to investigate the players named in a 2015 Al Jazeera documentary on performance-enhancing drugs, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

“The NFL has chosen to initiate an investigation of these players based upon now-recanted statements that appeared in an Al Jazeera report,” stated the NFLPA, which added that the league “has decided to publicly pressure the players into submission. We will continue to advise our players about their rights and hold the NFL accountable.”

As the union alluded to, ex-Guyer Institute pharmacist Charlie Sly went back on claims that the institute supplied PEDs and-or painkillers to now-retired quarterback Peyton Manning, Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, Steelers linebacker James Harrison and former Packer and current free agent linebacker Mike Neal, but the league still plans to interview each of those individuals in the coming weeks. Harrison, for his part, isn’t exactly thrilled about it.

The league is likely to have difficulty finding “credible evidence” to punish anyone implicated in the documentary, as Florio details.

Latest On Johnny Manziel

June 24th, 2016 at 8:05pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Nearly every mention of former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel on PFR in recent months has been negative, and the latest update, sadly, is no different. Manziel’s father spoke with Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Facebook link) about his son’s life off-the-field, and voiced his concerns for the former Heisman winner.

“He’s a druggie. It’s not a secret that he’s a druggie. I don’t know what to say other than my son is a druggie and he needs help. He just hasn’t seeked it yet,” said Paul Manziel. “Hopefully he doesn’t die before he comes to his senses. That’s about all you can say. I don’t know what else to say. I hate to say it but I hope he goes to jail. I mean, that would be the best place for him. So we’ll see.”

Paul Manziel’s comments come on the heels of another incident involving his son — Manziel’s lawyer accidentally texted the Associated Press and revealed details about his client’s domestic violence case, not only admitting that a plea deal was the target, but mistakenly disclosing non-flattering aspects of Manziel’s life. “Heaven help us if one of the conditions [of a plea bargain] is to pee in a bottle,” wrote Manziel’s attorney, suggesting that his client wouldn’t be able to pass a drug test. The accidental text also described a receipt for more than $1K in drug paraphernalia that may have been purchased by Manziel, though that remains unconfirmed.

Manziel’s rep recently said that his client is still preparing to play in the NFL in 2016, but admitted that a 2017 return was more likely. But at this point, a return to the league at any point seems like a stretch — if Manziel can’t go more than a few weeks without an incident or negative press, no club is going to risk the backlash of signing him.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Notes: T-Rich, Manziel, Dolphins

June 8th, 2016 at 8:44pm CST by Rory Parks

Trent Richardson may be down to his last chance to continue his NFL career, and he may be firmly on the Ravens‘ roster bubble, but one still has to give him credit for dreaming big. In an interview with Comcast SportsNet, Richardson said he would end his NFL story by “Putting on a yellow jacket. People wrote him off, he came back and did some amazing things. He always had the pedigree. He just had to get back to the guy that we know” (link via Clifton Brown of CSNMidAtlantic.com). T-Rich, the former No. 3 overall pick of the 2012 draft, has a career average of just 3.3 yards per carry, and he has struggled with injuries and weight throughout the course of his once-promising career. Just 25, Richardson realizes there will probably not be another opportunity for him if he fails to make Baltimore’s roster, but as he fights to carve out a place for himself on the Ravens–who are well-stocked at the running back position–a little self-confidence can’t hurt.

Now for a few more links from the AFC:

Johnny Manziel‘s attorney, Jim Darnell, says his client is preparing as though he will play in the NFL in 2016, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes. Per Fowler, Darnell concedes that a return to the league in 2017 is more realistic, but it would take a confluence of positive outcomes for even that to happen. Manziel’s pending assault charge, for which he has a status hearing on June 24, would have to be resolved in his favor, he would have to weather whatever punishments the league levies upon him, and he would have to find a team willing to gamble on him and his fledgling football abilities.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that the NFL has not yet contacted Dolphins rookie left tackle Laremy Tunsil about the now-infamous bong video that precipitated Tunsil’s fall in April’s draft. As Florio notes, however, the league could come calling any day.
The top of the Dolphins‘ wide receiver depth chart is largely settled, but there is some intrigue among a few of the less-heralded players on the roster, as Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald writes. Barring injury, Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, and Leonte Carroo will be the club’s top four wideouts, but rookie Jakeem Grant, despite being a raw route-runner, has flashed in OTAs, and players like Griff Whalen and Matt Hazel also have their supporters among the Dolphins’ coaching staff.
New Jets left tackle Ryan Clady still has a chip on his shoulder as a result of the unceremonious end to his tenure with the Broncos several months ago, and he is determined to prove he is still the same player he was during his peak years in Denver, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes.
Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida-Times Union takes a look at six returning Jaguars who could be on the roster bubble, a list headlined by Tyson Alualu and Dwayne Gratz.

AFC North Notes: Steelers, Suisham, Manziel

June 8th, 2016 at 10:52am CST by Zachary Links

Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham is supposed to be in a roster battle with Chris Boswell, but there might not be much of a fight if Suisham doesn’t get healthy soon, as Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes. Suisham says he has yet to recover from a torn ACL that he suffered last year and he has not attempted a kick since then. Now, Suisham isn’t sure if he will be ready for training camp at the end of July.

“Any sort of a battle is not an issue with me right now because I am not healthy,” Suisham said. “I will continue to work to get there, but I don’t know when that will be. I don’t have a time frame. Hopefully, it is for training camp.”

Suisham signed a four-year, $12.5MM extension in 2014, making him one of the top 10 highest-paid kickers in the NFL. The Steelers would save $2.4MM by releasing him. Boswell, meanwhile, makes the NFL minimum $525K.

Here’s more from the AFC North:

Paul Dehner Jr. of The Enquirer (Twitter link) suspects that if the Bengals sign Dwight Freeney, it won’t happen until we get “much closer” to training camp, if not August. He adds that a reunion between the Bengals and cornerback Leon Hall is unlikely, but the same parameters apply if it were to happen. Freeney says he’s 95% sure he’ll play in 2016, he’s just not sure where.
In an interview on ESPN, former Browns GM Ray Farmer said that the organization was not ready to handle Johnny Manziel‘s level of celebrity, which hindered the quarterback’s development. “In Johnny’s case, I truly feel like a lot of people piled on the young man,” Farmer said (transcript via USA Today). “He’s done his share of helping everybody get on top of that bandwagon, but the reality is the responsibility is born by both the club, and the player. And when the club doesn’t follow up on its end, it makes it that much easier for players to get off track.”
Former UNLV tight end Jake Phillips worked out for the Steelers on Monday, according to a league source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
Browns defensive end Desmond Bryant says he was absolutely hoping that Cleveland would hire Hue Jackson, whom he referred to as his favorite coach (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal). Bryant played for Jackson in Oakland in 2011.
Former Steelers cornerback Brandon Boykin is reportedly dealing with serious hip issues which could be keeping him from finding a new NFL home.
Recently, the Navy OK’d Ravens rookie Keenan Reynolds to play in 2016.

Extra Points: Fitzgerald, Redskins, Manziel

May 24th, 2016 at 8:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald had something of a comeback season in 2015, catching 109 passes for more than 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns in his age-32 season. Now, as he enters the final year of his contract with Arizona, could retirement be on the horizon? “Honestly, I have no idea,” Fitzgerald told Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link). “I really don’t look at it like that.”

“We’re just in OTAs right now, man,” added Fitzgerald, who is set to enter his 13th season with the Cardinals. “We’ve got training camp and minicamp and the regular season. We’ve got a long ways to go before that’s even a point of discussion. So I’m enjoying this. I’m trying to make it the best year yet.”

Let’s take a look at some more news and notes from around the NFL…

The Redskins are likely to add a running back to their roster at some point, according to Rich Tandler and Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com. Asking second-year back Matt Jones to handle the load by himself seems like a big ask, write the CSN scribes, who toss out Pierre Thomas, who played in four games for Washington last season, as a possible free agent worth targeting. Arian Foster, Joique Bell, and Bryce Brown are among the other running back options still left on the board.
Those close to former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel have begun to fear for his safety, and some are worried that he might not live much longer if he doesn’t change his ways, according to a report from TMZ. Manziel’s own father said in February that Manziel might not make it to his 24th birthday if he doesn’t seek help. We learned yesterday that Manziel is the subject of an ongoing NFL investigation.
In a recent mailbag, a reader asked Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com whether Bears running back Jeremy Langford can replace the production of Matt Forte, who left the team in free agency this spring. Forte leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage (12,718) since 2008, so obviously those are huge shoes to fill. Langford, luckily, won’t have to fill them on his own, as Chicago plans to use a committee — comprised of rookie Jordan Howard, third-year player Ka’Deem Carey, and Jacquizz Rodgers — in the backfield.
Here’s a fun fact from ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitterink): Steelers star Antonio Brown made $62K per catch in 2015, the lowest among wide receivers making $5MM or more last year. Brown is set to make just $6.25MM in base salary this season and with a $12.37MM cap hold. The wide receiver says that finishing his career under another long-term extension with the Steelers would be “an honor,” and he’s not planning to hold out for a new contract just yet.
NFL owners voted today to approve several changes to the instant replay process, all of which can be found in this PDF.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Johnny Manziel Being Investigated By NFL

May 23rd, 2016 at 6:36pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is the subject of an NFL investigation, as TMZ reports. The owner of a rental car agency contacted the league after Manziel failed to pay for $90K in damages to a rental vehicle, and was ultimately sought out by NFL investigators. League sources tell TMZ that the car crash inquiry is part of a “larger Manziel investigation which is ongoing.”

Although the TMZ article hints that Manziel is not subject to league discipline given that he’s not currently on an NFL roster, that is actually not the case. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, the NFL has time and again suspended players who were at the time unemployed. With Manziel’s litany of incidents — both before and after he was released by Cleveland — it stands to figure that he’ll be served with a ban at some point, especially if he begins to seriously consider an NFL comeback.

Manziel, 23, was indicted in April after a domestic violence involving his girlfriend — the NFL was said to be ramping up its own investigation of Manziel during that time, but the league hasn’t announced any sort of punishment and/or resolution. Meanwhile, Manziel himself has reportedly expressed a desire to play in the NFL during the 2016 season, but given his seemingly endless streak of poor decisions, it’s hard to believe that any club would take such a chance.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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