Former Heisman Trophy winner John Manziel indicates he’s working his way back to the NFL, but the attitude adjustment narrative is old. Who cares?
John “Johnny Football” Manziel appeared on the Dan Patrick Show and indicated that he ‘ working his way back toward to the NFL … he hopes.
According to Albert Breer, John (as he prefers to be called) has been working hard in hopes of returning to the NFL this spring.
The real question is, does anybody believe this narrative? Does anybody care?
We’ve heard this story pushed by John Football and his people since before he was drafted in 2014 by the Cleveland Browns. His football career derailed before it ever got started, Manziel has fought off-field issues, immaturity and addiction since (at least) the moment we first heard his name in the national media.
Despite these issues, Manziel won the Heisman Trophy,and managed to be a first round draft pick (22nd overall) in the 2014 Draft.
That was the highpoint of his career. Manziel never became a prolific, or even mediocre, NFL starter and was released by the Browns after just two seasons, in 2015.
Since that time we’ve read report after report about the Texas native battling personal demons, outside distractions, and immaturity, on his way to coming back to the NFL.
But at this point it’s difficult to read any news about the former Aggie and really muster up even a little bit of desire to care.
With two NFL seasons, one CFL season and one (partial) AAF season, John Football has failed to thrill us with his talent, or acumen, as an NFL-caliber passer. If a team were to take a shot, it would appear to be purely a publicity move, and not one intent on making him the next face of their franchise.
There are teams for whom it may make sense to give Manziel a shot. Teams with quarterbacks on the back end of their careers (New England, LA Chargers, Green Bay Packers), teams with good quarterback coaches (Kansas City, Chicago) who may be able to turn him around, etc. But do any of them really have the time or patience to deal with Manziel as a person, and a media circus, in hopes of getting production out of him?
Unlikely. In two NFL seasons, and a couple of stints in other pro leagues, Manziel has proven that he’s not talented enough to be an NFL quarterback.
If he’s able to get his career back on track, it would be a wonderful story. But wake us up when he’s back in the NFL.