Cleveland Browns: The Judgment of Johnny Manziel

Cleveland Browns QB Johnny Manziel has been one of the most polarizing players in recent years.

Coming out of college only Reggie Bush had more social media hype than the famed Johnny football. This week the former Texas A&M star Quarterback was benched by the Cleveland Browns for pretty much putting himself in the spotlight again. Now there’s a huge rift in the sports world on whether it was right or not for the Browns to bench him, some believe that he’s only 22 and as long as he’s not causing a ruckus what’s the big deal? Others take a look at the long string of incidents that have occurred over the past 2 years and think that enough is enough. It’s hard to look at a young guy and tell him that he can’t have a social life but it’s also hard to give a guy who prioritizes partying over football the keys to the car.

Nov 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) warms up before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

For what it’s worth I think both sides have a point. So long as he’s not getting arrested and showing a lack of judgment through pictures and videos that he should be able to enjoy himself, occasionally. There is something to be said about being a professional however and I think that’s the part many people who make the “he’s 22” argument are missing. Nobody’s telling him to sit in the house and twiddle his fingers on the bye week, from what I understood Pettine specifically asked him to not be out in the spotlight as best he could. Now of course media makes things look a lot worse than they are but the images that were shown give you the idea that he wasn’t just out for a nice steak dinner that night. If someone’s going to hand you one of thirty two jobs in the NFL, you might want to do all you can to keep that job. Manziel has every right to have a social life, every single right, but there’s a time and a place for those things. It’s not right after you’re named starter for the remainder of the season. If you ask me that’s a huge middle finger to the coaching staff and the front office.

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For those still saying “so what? Let him play!” well think about the number of incidents that have occurred and remember a time you dealt with somebody who constantly made poor choices for the better part of 2 years. Remember what it means to go to rehab to get your life together and the vow this person took to change their ways. Remember that a promise was made just days before videos surfaced of Manziel doing exactly what he said he wouldn’t. Manziel not only was out this past bye week but he was at college station a couple weeks ago handing out gold chains and partying then also. A one time incident is no big deal but a repeated occurrence is a problem and that seems to be the thing with Johnny football.

There’s an entire off-season to party and do the things you want to do but being irresponsible during the season isn’t something to be looked past. For a team that’s had the most notorious Quarterback carousel this is yet another bump in the road. If Manziel can’t pull it together then expect Cleveland to draft another signal caller in the Spring.