Fran Tarkenton doesn’t think Johnny Manziel will make it in the NFL
By Mike Dyce
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was an undeniable talent in college football. His passing was as prolific as his scrambling ability.
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The big question was whether he could carry that skill over into the NFL. Minnesota Vikings legend and Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton isn’t on the Manziel bandwagon and doesn’t think he will succeed, an interesting comment since Tarkenton is the player Manziel is compared to most frequently.
“I was excited from his college career,” said Tarkenton in a radio interview Thursday with the Talk of Fame Network, as transcribed by the Dallas Morning News. “But I watched him last week … if someone put a gun to my head and asked me if he was going to make it, I’d say no.
“He was very inaccurate. You can have the strongest arm or the weakest arm — but you cannot play quarterback if you’re not accurate with the football. It’s not a hard thing to do. The great ones are always accurate. He missed four or five passes last week that were way off the mark. You cannot teach accuracy.
“He doesn’t look as quick. He looks hesitant. Right now, I don’t think he’s going to be an outstanding quarterback.”