Shorttynaz Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 (edited) CLEVELAND -- Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel entered treatment on Wednesday, adviser Brad Beckworth told ESPN.com through a Manziel spokesman. "Johnny knows there are areas in which he needs to improve in order to be a better family member, friend and teammate and he thought the offseason was the right time to take this step," Beckworth said. "On behalf of Johnny and his family, we're asking for privacy until he rejoins the team in Cleveland." Browns general manager Ray Farmer said in a statement that they support Manziel's decision. "We respect Johnny's initiative in this decision and will fully support him throughout this process. Our players' health and well-being will always be of the utmost importance to the Cleveland Browns," Farmer said. "We continually strive to create a supportive environment and provide the appropriate resources, with our foremost focus being on the individual and not just the football player. Johnny's privacy will be respected by us during this very important period and we hope that others will do the same." Interviews by ESPN.com with nearly 20 Browns sources, both on the record and on condition of anonymity, along with several NFL personnel sources reveal the Manziel-related problems run deep. Those who spoke talked of a yearlong pattern that showed a lack of commitment and preparation, a failure to be ready when given a chance in his first start against Cincinnati and a continued commitment to nightlife, which affected his preparation and work while in the team facility. On a Tuesday in the final week of the season, Manziel stood in front of about 20 media members and outlined his plan to become the Browns' answer at quarterback. He wanted to be "the guy" for Cleveland, he said, and would do so by taking his job more seriously. He was more animated than he'd been all year, eager to declare his intentions. Four days later, stories in the Browns' facility began to circulate. Manziel was not present the morning before the season finale. Team security drove to Manziel's downtown home to check on him. The Browns were packing up for the season finale at Baltimore on Dec. 28. Two team sources said security found a player who they felt clearly had partied hard the night before. One source used the words "drunk off his a--." The official word was that Manziel was "late," but players said they didn't see Manziel until the Browns' chartered airplane prepared to take off in the afternoon, that he was not present all morning. The team fined Manziel for missing treatment on his injured hamstring, then had him sit in the locker room during the season finale in Baltimore. "Johnny's his own worst enemy," one source said. The Monday after the season, Manziel had another news conference, saying many of the same things from six days earlier -- actions must support words. That night he was featured in Instagram photos on Miami Beach, a few days later at a club in Houston and a few days after that on a mountain in Aspen, Colorado. "I brought this on myself," Manziel said the day after the Baltimore game. "I brought these cameras and all these people that are in this locker room right now and I don't think it's fair to myself, I don't think it's fair to anybody in this locker room the distractions I've brought at points in time." http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12267487/johnny-manziel-cleveland-browns-entering-rehab-improve-himself?ex_cid=sportscenterFB Edited February 2, 2015 by Shorttynaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 At least he recognizes the problem and is taking measures to improve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Hope it works out for him. I'm not a fan, but this step earns a small measure of respect. Does this now automatically enter him into the NFL substance abuse program (meaning he is on alert for immediate suspensions)? Or maybe he was already in the program without us knowing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loaf Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 I'm shocked and dismayed. I just hope it works out for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 (edited) At least he recognizes the problem and is taking measures to improve. agreed ..he is 20 years old and it can not be easy ..at 20 i tried to party like a rock star and i had no money so i cant criticize Manziel totally hope this helps him personally Edited February 2, 2015 by isleseeya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainHook Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Do the Browns do any homework on their draft picks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borge007 Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Do the Browns do any homework on their draft picks? I guess enough to trade Richardson to the Colts! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainHook Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 I guess enough to trade Richardson to the Colts! They figured out he sucked after they drafted him. But Manziel and Josh Gordon? Red flags aplenty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BA Baracus Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 They figured out he sucked after they drafted him. But Manziel and Josh Gordon? Red flags aplenty. Gordon was taken in the supplemental draft. Those picks are dice roll fliers anyhow, so not like they took any real risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grits and Shins Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 At least he recognizes the problem and is taking measures to improve. I'm not convinced he recognized anything other than he better give the appearance of doing something before his job slips away ... forever; i.e. I am not convinced that he isn't going through the motions because his agent convinced him his career depended on the appearance of him cleaning up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainHook Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Gordon was taken in the supplemental draft. Those picks are dice roll fliers anyhow, so not like they took any real risk. Didn't they give up second round draft pick to select him in the supplemental round? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Didn't they give up second round draft pick to select him in the supplemental round? yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 As much as I applaud his decision and/or his advisors, he's not even legal drinking age. He hasn't experienced crap yet. I hope, for his sake, he doesn't have a massive relapse when becomes of age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sksmith Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 ^he's 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrab Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 They figured out he sucked after they drafted him. But Manziel and Josh Gordon? Red flags aplenty. You don't have to dig very deep on those two to see they had problems. Yes I believe they did their homework, and thought both guys could be turned around. Gordon was ok to start, then problem after problem after problem. Manziel was still a rookie and not taking the NFL seriously. Wonder if they had told him "you're the starter, its your team" if he'd had taken things more seriously. I just hope this is a sincere attempt to change his attiitude and habits. If the Browns or his agent (family, etc) forced him into rehab, or if he did it only to create an image of working to change then it will end badly. Local reaction is mixed, many don't like him to start and feel this isn't sincere. Others are not as concerned about him being a good NFL player and just hope he straightens himself out before he spirals down a dark hole. I think the best time for this would have been last offseason, but it apparently took some time (and possibly the latest suspension for Gordon) to get him to accept he needed this. As for the question about the NFL substance abuse program, pretty sure this puts him in level one, I read that yesterday from a local media source that knows the NFL rules well (Tony Grossi). Here is a recent local article that I just started reading, which appears to have more info (if you believe reporters today who usually base most of their story on unconfirmed rumors from unnamed sources). http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/02/how_johnny_manziel_raised_his.html PS Apparently the Colts didn't do their homework on TRich before sending the Browns a first round pick for him ether. Not that much research was needed. Not every team can luck into 2 franchise QBs in the draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrab Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 (edited) Another article I just read said whether Manziel goes into the NFL substance abuse program is up to the doctors working with him in rehab. It is not automatic as some others have reported. So at best I'd say he might go on, but its not certain. I think this makes sense, if the doctors find he has an addiction problem, then he should be in and if its alcohol he craves that should be prohibited. http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/02/how_johnny_manziel_raised_his.html Edited February 3, 2015 by stevegrab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin_Akie Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Not surprised considering a lot of the antics he got up to at A&M that were just kept under wraps from the press. Best of luck to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BA Baracus Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Didn't they give up second round draft pick to select him in the supplemental round? Didn't realize the supplemental draft costs picks from the next years draft. In that case, the Browns did make a sizable investment that is currently in the crapper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zooty Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 well since this is the closet to the "bash the Browns as idiots" thread as we have.l I give you their other 1st round pick this past year.... Justin Gilbert - DB - Browns CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports Browns first-round CB Justin Gilbert was seen "more as a nuisance than an asset" by the end of this past season. "He was routinely late, was a chronic knucklehead and rubbed teammates and coaches the wrong way," writes La Canfora, who has an excellent writeup on the new lows of the Browns at the link below. Gilbert, the No. 8 pick in last year's draft, was reportedly often late to games. He played just 373 snaps as a rookie and tumbled behind UDFA K'Waun Williams and fourth-rounder Pierre Desir. Much like teammate Johnny Manziel, Gilbert has the early makings of a bust. Source: CBS Sports Feb 4 - 12:52 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zooty Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 and for good measure Ray Farmer - G - Browns The Browns could be fined and docked a draft pick, while GM Ray Farmer is facing a multi-game suspension as a result of "TextGate." The Browns are having one heck of a start to the offseason. Johnny Manziel is in rehab, Josh Gordon has been banned for one year, and now the team is staring at stiff penalties because a front-office member -- suspected to be Farmer -- was texting coaches on the sidelines during games this past season. The NFL is expected to wrap up its investigation into the matter either this week or next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrab Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/25038103/browns-mess-with-gordon-manziel-starts-with-owner-haslams-mismanagement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wpob Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Looks like a PR move to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrab Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Here's an intersting article in the local paper. It includes a link to another story where Mike Mayock admits he got something things wrong with Manziel, specifically overlooking the potential negatives. http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2015/02/the_cleveland_browns_must_be_c.html The article with more from Mayock during a pre combine conference call yesterday http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/02/mike_mayock_still_thinks_johnn.html Mayock is basically saying no way the Browns should trade up for Winston or Mariota. This one quote was pretty good. And some other comments that basically say the Browns took enough risks last year, and need good quality players (a top WR, a RT or maybe TE) with their 12 & 19 picks in round 1. "As far as Manziel's future is concerned, I still buy into the quarterback,'' he said. "I still think he can learn to be a difference-maker in this league. But I think almost all of it is contingent upon whether he grows up, is able to handle himself, is able to overcome the problems he has and move forward with the football.'' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboyz1 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Thank GOD, Jerry got duck taped in a broom closet when they put in the card for Martin instead of Johnny Rehab. Avoided a disaster of a pick. I hope that moves him to lean on the brain trust when it comes drafting in the future because they have done one hell of a job evaluating talent and picking solid guys. The past few drafts have been very solid. Reminds me of the Parcells and JJ years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrab Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Thank GOD, Jerry got duck taped in a broom closet when they put in the card for Martin instead of Johnny Rehab. Avoided a disaster of a pick. I hope that moves him to lean on the brain trust when it comes drafting in the future because they have done one hell of a job evaluating talent and picking solid guys. The past few drafts have been very solid. Reminds me of the Parcells and JJ years. It took Jerry a long time to understand he isn't the expert he thought it was. Gives me some hope that our idiot owner can learn and stop meddling. But hey at least we have that cool new logo. Such a ground breaking change (not that most fans wanted a major change, but they sure hyped the hell out of it when it was simple a new shade of orange on the helmet). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.