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Browns QB Johnny Manziel released from rehab

By Luke Dahlgren

Dec 28, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) warms up prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) warms up prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns second year quarterback Johnny Manziel has been released after a stay in a rehabilitation facility.

A major chapter in the life of Johnny Manziel has concluded. Just a few short weeks ago, the second year Cleveland Browns quarterback entered rehab, no doubt for his issues with alcohol that plagued his time both at Texas A&M and Cleveland. The moved showed an increasing maturity to admit weakness and commit to improvement.

Manziel can now fully make his long awaited return to the Browns.

Many Browns fans, and just football fans in general, have written off Manziel as an NFL quarterback after he had only played five quarters of football. During those five quarters, Manziel posted a 42.o quarterback rating, with just 175 yards and no touchdowns to two interceptions. Despite the brevity of that playing time, fans were questioning if he even contained the talent at all.

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The Browns have been rumored to desire moving up in the draft to select Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota in the top five, and the signing of Josh McCown signaled that Manziel likely wouldn’t be the starter during at least the first half of the 2015 season.

Combined with his self-destructive lifestyle, Manziel became a punchline for non-Browns fans and a sad episode for Browns fans in their long odyssey towards relevance.

Returning from rehab allows for Manziel to flip the narrative of his career. Cleaning up his mind will give Manziel the opportunity to focus on developing his craft.

According to former NFL wide receiver Vance Johnson, who dealt with alcoholism himself and went through rehab, the Browns will soon know exactly what type of player they drafted.

From USA Today:

"“He’s going to be a whole different man. He’ll see now that addiction either made him more brave on the field — and not care and not think because of the reckless lifestyle — or he’s going to be a Peyton Manning and go to a whole new level. It’s not going to be in between.”"

The Browns shouldn’t be expecting Johnny Manziel to be Peyton Manning when he returns, but they will be getting a more focused individual at quarterback.

[H/T: USA Today]

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