Also named “Johnny Football” for his expertise as a starring quarterback at Texas A&M University, Johnny Manziel is 2014’s number 22 pick for the NFL draft and the 2012 Heisman trophy winner. For being a high number draft pick, he sure is making waves, claiming as well as showing that he will not be the Cleveland Brown’s number two quarterback for long. He is clearly fighting for top billing. But I don’t think he will get it. In fact, Mike Pettine the head coach of the Browns has said that neither Brian Hoyer, the current starting quarterback, nor Manziel will start for the Browns.
Even quarterback coach Dowell Loggains said in a press conference that Hoyer is not technically a veteran player skill-wise, and that both players have a shot at becoming the starting quarterback. While Hoyer has a little more experience, he is not strong enough to take the team to the playoffs, and Manziel has too much unchecked ego for this leadership role.
Now the second quarterback for the Browns, Manziel is supposed to be something special, even for being the 22nd draft pick this year, but I have a feeling he won’t be all that and a bag of potato chips. In fact, when I see him in interviews, he seems like an overblown, privileged boy with a higher-than-thou attitude, who expected to be put on top the second he went pro. It doesn’t work that way, sweetheart.
In Manziel’s first NFL game, he did OK. He appeared calm at the beginning (emphasis on the word “appeared”) and didn’t delay the game, but his performance altogether was mediocre. His rushes were a result of him not knowing where to throw the ball after the snap. I mean what is this? A scene from “The Game Plan?” A quarterback should throw the ball to open receivers not show how much of a superstar he can be by outrunning the defense.
The balls he did manage to throw looked off kilter and much too low for the receiver to catch. Maybe that lack of calm comes with experience, or as my father calls it, “time in the saddle.” Honestly, I just feel the NFL level is too high for him. He peeked in college, which sounds harsh, but being a good college player doesn’t necessarily mean he will be a good NFL player. It’s a different, more demanding level. Not everyone can handle it.
Further, in a recent game, Manziel flipped the bird to the entire Washington Redskins team. I suppose it means that his head is in the game, but it also shows a lack of sportsmanship in the heat of the moment, and we all know people show their true character in the heat of the moment. On the other hand, on-the-field emotions run high; players want their team to win. It’s like a battle that only has one winner, so it might not be such a bad thing that he told the Redskins to take a hike. However, the quarterback is a leadership role, and it’s not a good example to set for the rest of his team. Maybe he got mad at the racist overtone of the other teams name. But that’s a subject for another article entirely.
Browns, my advice is to keep looking for your star quarterback. I mean Manziel is OK and Hoyer has a little more experience, but if winning is the main priority (and I know it is) then it’s time for to shop around. Maybe choosing a rookie with mediocre stats is not the best plan.
