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Johnny Manziel reinstated by NFL, but can he be good?

By Russell S. Baxter

May 5, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Johnny Manziel leaves the courtroom after he makes his first appearance at the Frank Crowley Courts Building on his misdemeanor assault charge. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Johnny Manziel leaves the courtroom after he makes his first appearance at the Frank Crowley Courts Building on his misdemeanor assault charge. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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When it came to the football part of “Johnny Football,” we barely knew Johnny Manziel in the NFL. Free to play again, will any team take a chance on him?

Wednesday night’s news was that one of the NFL’s most controversial figures was able to play football once again.

USA Today’s Tom Pelissero informed us that a certain 2014 first-round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns by the name of Johnny Manziel was available to take the field.

Now comes the bigger question. Are there any takers?

While Johnny can now put the football back on his resume, he remains a free agent. You will recall that the Browns gave him his walking papers back on March 11 a few days after the start of the league’s 2016 fiscal season. We then learned in June that he would be suspended for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

So what does the future hold for the former Heisman Trophy winner turned professional quarterback and eventual major distraction? Is Manziel indeed interested in renewing his NFL career?

Back in late July in a spontaneous interview with TMZ Sports, the colorful personality expressed an interest in at least one franchise when asked. The answer won’t surprise you.

As for the numbers, he played 15 games with the Browns over the course of two seasons. He won twice in eight starts, completed 57.0 percent of his passes and threw just as many touchdown passes (7) as interceptions. The 23-year-old performer also ran for 259 yards and a score in those contests.

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Let’s be honest. Trying to figure out Manziel’s next move is probably a waste of time, perhaps because he may not know what he wants to do next. Apparently there’s some interest in playing football again, but who knows if he will actually get the opportunity … and when it will come.

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