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Browns center believes Johnny Manziel is long-term answer at quarterback

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 30, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills won 26-10. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills won 26-10. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alex Mack still believes in Johnny Manziel and the Cleveland Browns center thinks he can be the long-term answer at quarterback despite a disappointing rookie season and a stint in rehab.

The fate of Johnny Manziel is a mystery after the former Heisman winner was a colossal disappointment as a rookie and is finishing up a stint rehab where he’s been the last two months receiving treatment for undisclosed reasons.

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Last year’s second of two first round picks came under fire from perennial pro bowl left tackle, Joe Thomas earlier this week when the Browns offensive lineman said Manziel has to earn his trust back and prove he wants to put the work in to be the starting quarterback

“I think he’s going to have to prove to the team that football is important and being the man, being the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, is important, it is his goal, his single goal in his life,” Thomas said.

His linemate, Pro Bowl center Alex Mack took a different approach than Thomas and is still optimistic Manziel is capable of being the answer at the position the Browns have struggled to fill since Bernie Kosar and told Sirius XM Radio that he isn’t giving up on Manziel.

Mack can opt-out of his contract at the end of the 2015 season so if Manziel fails to be the player the team hopes he would be when they traded up to get him with their second pick in the first round, Mack could wash his hands of the situation and find a team where their starting quarterback didn’t spend the offseason in rehab and can lead Mack to the playoffs.

However, he’s focused on the present and is confident the Browns are headed in the right direction and his primary focus is on staying healthy and will worry about his contract status next year.

You have to respect Mack for taking a glass half-full approach here and not throwing Manziel under the bus, but at the same time, I don’t fault Thomas for his comments either because he’s the leader of the team and is fed up with losing.

So while rumors continue to swirl the Browns are interested in drafting Marcus Mariota, trading for Sam Bradford or simply giving up on Manziel entirely, this much is clear, Manziel has a lot of work to do on and off the field to shed the bust label that’s plastered across his chest like the scarlet letter.

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