Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is back in the news, only this time trying to protect his “Johnny Football” nickname.
When you hear the term “Johnny Football” in the NFL, the first name lately that comes to mind is former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. His trademarked nickname is expiring this week, and his lawyers are on the job trying to save it.
A lawyer that represents the drama-filled QB filed paperwork on Monday with the US Patent and Trademark Office, in a report from ESPN. The moniker was set to expire on Tuesday, but it was important that Manziel be tied to the “Johnny Football” name. The 2014 first round pick does not own the name, but he does benefit from it.
Shortly after Manziel was drafted by the Browns, his reps cut a deal that allowed the NFL to sell the name to its licensees in exchange for him receiving a percentage of royalties from merchandise sales. He applied for the trademark initially in 2013, but a booster from his alumni at Texas A&M had filed before he did. After a rather short negotiation, the A&M booster agreed to transfer the rights to the trademark to Manziel’s company.
Manziel, who was drafted from Texas A&M, received a number of honors while playing there. In 2012, he racked up multiple First Team All-American awards from the AP, Sporting News, ESPN, CBS Sports, and Sports Illustrated.
He was also named the 2012 Sporting News College Football Player of the Year, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year and capped off the year nicely as the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy.
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However he has been associated with a number of off-field incidents that seemingly keep piling up. In June 2012, he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, failure to identify, and possession of a false ID.
In 2013, he was investigated over allegations of accepting payment for autographs signed earlier in the year. His troubles followed him to he NFL, where multiple alcohol-related problems led to issues with law enforcement as well as the Browns organization.
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This year, he was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season for violating the team’s substance abuse policy. While he is now eligible to return to action if signed, he has opted to return to College Station and is now taking classes at Texas A&M.