Cleveland Browns QB Johnny Manziel Humbled After Miserable First Start

Johnny Manziel had a disastrous outing in his first career NFL start for the Cleveland Browns when he suffered his first shutout on any level of football and called the experience a humbling one.

More from Cleveland Browns

He looked like and played like a rookie, those were the words from Cleveland head coach Mike Pettine following a 30-0 defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals that saw Johnny Manziel throw for 80 yards and throw two interceptions, including one in the end zone, in his first career start.

Manziel made the start with the team eliminated from playoff contention after Brian Hoyer led them to a 7-6 record, but with the team needing to get a glimpse of the future they handed the keys to the offense to Manziel who crashed and burned.

The former Heisman winner and the team’s second of two first round picks in the 2014 draft called his outing a humbling experience and lacked the intensity to win.

"“Absolutely. Very humbling,” Manziel said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “This game, obviously it has its ups and downs and yesterday was one of those days for us that didn’t go our way. It’s very humbling. I feel like they had good scheme and came out very aggressive and very ready for that game and we didn’t come out that way and match that intensity early."

“When you get down a little bit, it’s hard to claw your way back in and we just didn’t ever bring that intensity from the get-go.”

This was the first time Manziel has been shutout on any level of football and the media is piling on, as expected, following such a nightmarish performance. The criticism may be a bit harsh in some circles but when you put yourself in the spotlight you open yourself up to this type of criticism.

However, what will be the most telling is how Manziel plays in his next start and if he is able to shake off the poor start and tune out the criticism. There are a number of adjectives to describe Manziel and humble has not been one of them, so if a humbled Manziel comes out on Sunday, we could be seeing a whole new player.

Will that be good news or bad for the Browns?

For more NFL coverage this weekend stay on FanSided.com to stay on top of the latest updates around the league, including the latest scores, news, injury updates, videos and gif’s, so be sure to follow @FanSidedGIF on twitter so you don’t miss any of the jaw-dropping plays.

Next: Top 15 Biggest Heisman Trophy Snubs

Johnny Manziel had a disastrous outing in his first career NFL start for the Cleveland Browns when he suffered his first shutout on any level of football and called the experience a humbling one.

More from FanSided