ESPN’s Merril Hoge has certainly made news for controversial/trolling comments in the past and the former NFL running back was up to his old tricks on Wednesday.
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Hoge absolutely eviscerated Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel in an appearance on Pittsburgh radio station WDVE-FM, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
"Hoge took exception to Manziel texting quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains during the draft and declaring “we’ll wreck this league.”“That didn’t just burn players; it infuriates coaches,” Hoge said. “It told you, too, that he’s a juvenile punk. He was like that, and he’s still like that.”(…)“This will be the saddest, quickest ending we have seen in quite some time,” Hoge said. “It’ll be like a Tim Tebow (situation).”"
While it’s certainly OK for Hoge not to like Manziel as a football player, it’s pretty clear he went over the line here with the personal attacks. Still, Manziel took the high road and didn’t strike back.
"“Stuff pops up on my phone and I happened to see something,” Manziel said Wednesday. “He’s been in the opposite corner of me for a while now, so all I can really do is go out and try to prove him wrong. He’s entitled to every bit of his opinion.”"
Guys such as Hoge are going to take their shots at Manziel and the only way the former Texas A&M standout can shut them up is to perform on Sundays.
Until Manziel is given that opportunity, all he can really do is handle it the way he did and not let the criticism get to him.
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