Johnny Manziel Has Real Shot at NFL Comeback Says Ex-NFL QB
It"s become common game by many in America and elsewhere to c**p on lawyers whenever the opportunity presents itself. This is done unfairly in many cases, with a lack of understanding of what the adversarial nature of our legal system requires of legal advocates. For instance, a lawyer that strongly advocates for a client accused of something terrible isn"t himself or herself terrible. That"s the duty of the job.
But for one of the lawyers on the staff of Johnny Manziel, the seemingly troubled and frequent guest of the court who was once primarily known as a football player, it appears both that proper lawyer-ing is a bit more difficult than for most and that he"s a bully to boot. As you may have heard, Bob Hinton, who had been tasked with representing Manziel in his domestic abuse court case, accidentally texted the Associated Press information about his attempts to settle the case in a rather unfavorable light with respect to his client.
An attorney handling Johnny Manziel"s domestic violence case expressed doubts about the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback"s ability to stay clean and said he was given a receipt that shows Manziel may have spent more than $1,000 at a drug paraphernalia store just 15 hours after he was involved in a hit-and-run crash, according to a lengthy text message accidentally sent to The Associated Press. Defense attorney Bob Hinton"s text indicated Manziel"s legal team was seeking a plea deal with prosecutors, but suggested that could be tricky.
"Heaven help us if one of the conditions is to pee in a bottle," the attorney wrote.
This oops-text happened after the AP had apparently sent Hinton a text message requesting comment about a hit-and-run accident that Manziel was reportedly involved in (Manziel claims to be the victim of the accident). Hinton had meant to text what he sent to the AP to co-counsel. The communication also included information about a smoke-shop receipt that may have indicated that Manziel had been purchasing synthetic marijuana, a fact not useful for the defense team of a high-profile individual with well-covered run-ins involving substance abuse. To accidentally text that information to the Associated Press has to be one of the best examples of what not to do as an attorney for such an individual.
But the really face-palm-inducing move by Hinton was to then threaten to sue the AP if it did any reporting around that text message.
When asked about the text, Hinton said he had meant to send it to co-counsel Jim Darnell and was unaware the AP had received it instead. He insisted the contents were protected by attorney-client privilege and threatened to sue if certain details were published.
I guess we"ll get to take the measure of that threat, as the AP most certainly did report on not only the text, but the subsequent threat as well. Such threats are unlikely to ingratiate a lawyer to the press and, while I won"t say the AP reported because of the threat, it seems like the added threat has given the story some extra flavor, propelling it Streisand-style into wider coverage.
And, not surprisingly, others are now reporting that Hinton has been booted from Manziel"s legal staff as a result. Not a good day for the counselor, I think. The mistake was bad enough, but the attempted cover-up, as always, ends up doing more harm.
Johnny Manziel’s Lawyer Accidentally Sends Incriminating Texts About Johnny to Media
John Buhler
Jun 29th 2016 1:54PM
According to TMZ Sports, 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and former Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Johnny Manziel says that he"ll stop partying once he returns from his last vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on July 1st.
Manziel"s partying led him to be released by the Browns less than two years after drafting him in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M University. He became a locker room distraction and the Browns parted ways with him shortly after new head coach Hue Jackson took over during 2016 NFL free agency.
SEE ALSO: JJ Watt"s 9,000-calorie daily diet includes a carton of eggs, 3 servings of whole wheat pasta, and at least 4 chicken b*****s
Manziel does plan to get back into the NFL, but will have to curb his off-field antics if any respectable organization will even consider signing him. The most recent development in the Manziel downward spiral was a leaked Instagram post of a girl Manziel is partying with down in Cabo San Lucas is seen holding sunscreen and half a dozen small bags of drugs, presumably cocaine.
TMZ Sports spoke with Manziel and he assured them that those drugs weren"t his. He told TMZ Sports that he"s hanging out in a Cabo San Lucas mansion with 20 people, some of whom he doesn"t know, that he"s not doing any drugs on vacation, and plans to get back into the grind of training to get back into the NFL on July 1st.
The NFL has been a league willing to give its athletes second chances, but at this time, Manziel"s partying has made him toxic and no team will want to bring him into their locker room until he gets sober and gets his off the field issues under complete control. He had the talent to be a first round pick, but hasn"t had the maturity to have the staying power in the NFL.
Follow AOL Sports on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
FILE - in this Dec. 6, 2015, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel walks off the field at halftime of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cleveland. The Browns said in a statement, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, that Manziel"s troubles off the field have undermined his teammates and the organization. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2015, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel speaks with media members following the team"s 30-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game in Seattle. The Browns said in a statement, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, that Manziel"s troubles off the field have undermined his teammates and the organization. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund, File)
FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel looks to pass against the Seattle Seahawks in the second half of an NFL football game in Seattle. Johnny Manziel"s ex-girlfriend told police the Cleveland Browns quarterback hit her during an argument last weekend in Texas and said he appeared to be on drugs. Fort Worth police released a report Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 that provided the first details of the altercation Saturday night between Manziel and Colleen Crowley. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund, File)
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel reacts after being selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Thursday, May 8, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel celebrates after a 60-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Travis Benjamin in the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Cleveland. Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was involved in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend that police say involved alcohol, Friday, Oct. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel warms up before an NFL football training camp scrimmage game Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel addresses the media after NFL football minicamp in Berea, Ohio, Wednesday, June 17, 2015. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel walks to the locker room after practice at NFL football training camp, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel calls a play during NFL football minicamp in Berea, Ohio, Wednesday, June 17, 2015. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, right, hands a football back to Carter Atwater, 5, from Rocky River, Ohio after signing it after practice at the NFL football team"s training camp Thursday, July 30, 2015, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns looks on prior to the star of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on October 4, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 20, 2015: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns laughs while stretching prior to a game against the Tennessee Titans on September 20, 2015 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 28-14. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns listens to Joe Haden #23 on the sideline during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on October 4, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 20, 2015: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns runs out of the tackle of safety Coty Sensabaugh #24 of the Tennessee Titans during a game on September 20, 2015 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 28-14. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 15: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns looks on from the field during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 15, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 30-9. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 15: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns leaves the field after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 15, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 15: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns warms up before the start of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 15, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TX - NOVEMBER 07: Former Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel at Kyle Field on November 7, 2015 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 13, 2015: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns awaits the snap during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on December 13, 2015 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 24-10. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images)
BEREA, OH - DECEMBER 11, 2015: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns walks onto the field during a practice on December 11, 2015 at the Cleveland Browns traininst facility in Berea, Ohio. Cleveland will host the San Francisco 49ers on December 13 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 15: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns looks on from the sideline during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 15, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 30-9. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 20: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns rushes against defensive end Cassius Marsh #91 of the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 20, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Browns 30-13. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SHOW CAPTION +
HIDE CAPTION
More from AOL.com: The Jordan Rodgers "Bachelorette" update: Week 6 Pat Summitt, legendary Tennessee basketball coach, dies at 64 Remembering the time Buddy Ryan faked a QB kneel to run up the score against the Cowboys
An attorney handling Johnny Manziels domestic violence case expressed doubts about the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks ability to stay clean and said he was given a receipt that shows Manziel may have spent more than $1,000 at a drug paraphernalia store just 15 hours after he was involved in a hit-and-run crash, according to a lengthy text message accidentally sent to the Associated Press.
Defense attorney Bob Hintons text indicated Manziels legal team was seeking a plea deal with prosecutors, but suggested that could be tricky.
Heaven help us if one of the conditions is to pee in a bottle, the attorney wrote.
Hinton also wrote that he had been emailed a heads up receipt which purports to reflect that Manziel made a purchase of $1,018.77 at a Gas Pipe store at 12.03pm on Tuesday, less than a day after his crash. A manager at a Gas Pipe location not far from where Manziels crash was reported declined to discuss whether he bought anything there. A sign in the store says ID is required for purchases above $200.
I dont know if the receipt is legitimate or not, Hinton responded when asked about it by the AP. I just know that it doesnt say Johnnys name on it anywhere that I can see. Its just that somebody in that store, I guess, circulated that to the other store managers and employees saying, Guess who was here today and spent this amount of money. Thats all I know.
The errant text was sent Wednesday after the AP sought comment via text about Monday nights crash. When asked about the text, Hinton said he had meant to send it to co-counsel Jim Darnell and was unaware the AP had received it instead. He insisted the contents were protected by attorney-client privilege and threatened to sue if certain details were published.
Manziels spokeswoman, Denise Michaels, said in a statement to the AP that Hinton has always only operated on the periphery of this case.
Lead counsel Jim Darnell has told me from the beginning that he would never have Johnny plead guilty in this and that position has not changed, Michaels said.
The text shows that Manziels attorneys are pushing for leniency, even as they grapple with indications he could still be struggling with substance abuse more than a year after his stay in a rehab center. The charges the former Cleveland Browns quarterback is facing come amid heightened scrutiny of legal cases involving professional athletes following domestic violence accusations against NFL players Ray Rice and Greg Hardy.
The 23-year-old Manziel is accused of hitting and threatening former girlfriend Colleen Crowley during a night out in January. He faces a misdemeanor assault charge that carries a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
As the case has played out, the 2012 Heisman winner at Texas A&M has been photographed partying from Hollywood to Las Vegas to New York in recent months, and his own family has expressed concern about his well-being after he was cut by the Browns this year following two underwhelming seasons. On Friday, Manziels father, Paul, told ESPN.com his son has refused repeated efforts to help him.
I dont know what to say other than my son is a druggie and he needs help, he told the website. If I have to bury him, Ill bury him. Thats the fact. So if not, if he calls me and needs help, Ill go get him. Until then, hes on his own. Ive done everything I can do.
Hintons text said the Gas Pipe receipt was sent to him by an attorney who is involved in a federal case accusing two people affiliated with the chain of making and selling synthetic marijuana. Michaels called the purchase a rumor.
We dont know for sure whether the receipt does or doesnt represent a purchase he made since there are always unfounded stories flying around, but we all make it a policy to keep each other up to date on them, she said.
Hinton also wrote that he had met Wednesday morning with Jerry Varney, an administrative chief in the Dallas County District Attorneys Office.
He is very interested in working with us to arrive at some agreement in the case, he wrote. A spokeswoman for the DAs office did not comment.
Dallas police said Manziel reported that his car had been struck Monday night in a hit-and-run, but Hinton said in the text that there was conflict as to whether Johnny reported it or not. Manziel was not seriously injured.
Its unclear how close Manziels domestic violence case is to being resolved. Similar cases usually result in deferred adjudication probation, meaning the charges are dismissed after one to two years, said David Finn, a Dallas attorney and former judge who is not associated with the Manziel case.
Finn said drug-testing conditions depend on whether the defendant has shown a pattern of substance abuse. The defendant is normally required to enroll in anger management classes and a domestic violence program, an outcome similar to that of Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant when he faced a misdemeanor charge in 2012 over an incident in which he allegedly struck his mother with a hat.
Manziels rise and fall has long been punctuated with headlines for his off-field partying. The Browns selected the player dubbed Johnny Football in 2014, but he struggled on the field and was dropped this year. Since the 2015 season ended, two agents have cut ties with Manziel after demanding a second trip to rehab. He also faces potential punishment from the NFL under tougher standards regarding domestic violence cases adopted in 2014 following the Rice case. However, he is not currently with a team, and therefore not subject to league policies.
The allegations stem from a night out on Jan. 30. Crowley alleged Manziel accosted her at a Dallas hotel, a confrontation that continued downstairs to the valet station. She said he forced her into a car and that a valet disregarded her pleas for help.
The two eventually drove to where her car was parked in front of a Dallas bar, she said in an affidavit. She said Manziel got into the drivers seat and began to drive. Crowley said Manziel stopped when she tried to jump out of the car, but that he then dragged her back inside and hit her.
Johnny Manziel highlights (Week 16) | Browns vs. Chiefs | NFL
Johnny Manziels agent sent a text to the AP obviously meant for someone else about his concerns over if his client ever had to take a p**s test. Heaven help us if one of the conditions is to pee in a bottle, the attorney wrote, among other things. He claims it was a mistake and threatened to sue if the AP published the info.
In Johnnys defense, he was probably pretty loaded when he hired this guy.
Its safe to say Friday was kind of a dumpster fire of news. The day opened with news of the British deciding to leave the European Union. It set off all sorts of chatter, and the resignation of the prime minister of England. Normally I would ignore this kind of politics here, but given the way the rest of the day went, I view this as kind of a tone-setter.
The NFL decided on a modest little news dump earlier this afternoon with word that the league will be interviewing players mentioned in the Al Jazeera report, with interviews planned for the beginning of training camp. For those who dont remember it, the Al Jazeera report implicated Peyton Manning and others in PED. The report was a hot mess, with recanted statements leaving things completely up in the air. The NFLPA is challenging this given the questions surrounding the report.
Things got nutty at the end of the afternoon, with a report that Johnny Manziels attorney accidentally texted some rather damning content to the Associated Press. Manziels attorney apparently thought he was texting another lawyer. He mentioned doubts about Manziels ability to stay clean, and something about Manziel spending more than $1,000 at a drug paraphernalia 15 hours after a hit-and-run incident.
And why not close things off with free agent quarterback Tarvaris Jackson getting arrested.
After one of the most excitingfinishes in Super Bowl history, it still doesnt come as a complete surprisethat Johnny Manziel is the talk of the NFL less than 24 hours after Tom Bradywon his fourth Super Bowl in six trips.
Unfortunately, these headlines once again focus on theoff-field issues surrounding the 2012 Heisman Trophy recipient from TexasA&M. Reports came out Monday Morning that Manziel has checked into rehab tobe a better family member friend and teammate according to Brad Beckworth(adviser to Manziel) in a conversation with ESPN.
Manziels three years in the spotlight has been a rollercoaster ride. Below is a timeline of significant events in the short career ofJohnny Football to this point:
June 29, 2012:Manziel finds himself in College Station headlines for the first time afterbeing arrested by police in the popular North Gate district of College Station.He is charged with carrying fake identification as well as fighting.
November 10, 2012:Manziel throws for 253 yards and two touchdowns, rushes for another 92 yards inA&Ms 29-24 upset over No. 1 Alabama. The victory marks the true beginningof Johnny Manziels emergence into the national spotlight.
December 8, 2012: CollinKlein and Manti Teo watch as Johnny Manziel is announced as the first freshmanto win the Heisman.
January 4, 2013: Manzielgives dazzling performance en route to a Cotton Bowl victory over the OklahomaSooners. The following day, Manziel posts an instagram photo flashing a fistfulof cash captioned casino ballin. The photo was deleted, but Manziel latertweeted Nothing illegal about being 18+ in a casino and winning moneyKEEPHATING!
August 4, 2013: AnNCAA investigation is launched to investigate if Manziel was signing varioustypes of memorabilia in exchange for cash. With a lack of evidence of anywrong-doing, Manziel is ultimately suspended for only the first half of theseason opener against Rice as a result.
December 31, 2013: Down38-17 entering halftime, Manziel led the Aggies to a 52-48 comeback victoryover No. 22 Duke in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Manziel throws four touchdowns andruns for another. He sets school-records in passing yards, passing touchdowns,completion percentage and total offense in a single season.
As many expected, it is the last game of Manziels A&Mcareer.
January 8, 2014: Manzieldeclares for the 2014 NFL Draft.
May 8, 2014: Manzielsends the famous text to then QB coach Dowell Loggains of his desire to wreckthis league with the Cleveland Browns. Speculation rises that Jerry Jones mayselect Manziel as the next member of the Dallas Cowboys before ultimatelypassing on the opportunity. With the 22 overall selection, theBrowns draft Manziel.
June 7-15, 2014: Twoof the most popular images of Manziels partying lifestyle emerge. On theseventh, Manziel is photographed on a giant inflatable swan and holding abottle of champagne. A week later a video emerges with Manziel shouting Icant hear you, theres too much money in my [explicit] hand during rapperDrakes Houston Appreciation Weekend
June 27, 2014: Catchingflack for his recent Internet escapades gone viral, Manziel tells reporters atthe NFL Rookie Symposium that he is not going to change for anybody. Hepoints out that his hard work is reported on far less than his off fieldissues.
July 4, 2014: JohnnyManziel was photographed in a bathroom with a rolled up $20 bill. This is oftendone as a way to snort a variety of recreational drugs. To be clear, no drugswere ever found on Manziel that night and he has never failed a drug test. Arolled up twenty dollar bill could have been only that, but it wasnt a goodlook for the QB.
August 11, 2014: Manzielis fined for the first time as a member of the Browns after showing up late toa team meeting.
August 18, 2014: Manzielgets his wish and is discussed for what he does on the field. However, its not howhe planned. He receives a $12,000 fine after firing a middle finger at theRedskins bench. Brian Hoyer is named the starter of the Browns two days later.
September 14, 2014: Manzielmakes NFL regular season debut against the Saints, throws an incomplete pass.
November 22, 2014: Manzielis involved in an early-morning altercation in the lobby of a Clevelandapartment building. Though Manziel appeared to have been provoked and to not bein the wrong, the team is still upset at the time the altercation took place.
December 14, 2014: Manzielgoes 10 of 18 in his first career start, managing 80 yards passing and twointerceptions in the 30-0 loss.
December 21, 2014: Againstthe Panthers, Manziel leaves the game with a hamstring injury in the secondquarter. He does not start another game during the season
December 23, 2014: Inthe first real sign that Manziel is becoming aware of the issues with hisbehavior, he tells reporters Its been a year of growing up for me I have totake [his job] a lot more seriously than maybe I did at first.
December 27, 2014: Manzielis attached to a night of partying involving receiver Josh Gordon beforemissing the team walkthrough the following day. Manziel denies all reports ofthe party. Two days later, he tells reporters Its about action. Its aboutbeing accountable and doing what Im [going to] say instead of looking like ajackass.
December 30, 2014: JohnnyManziel wishes Lebron James a happy birthday from South Beach via Instagram.
January 5, 2015: During the first weekend of the NFL offseason, Manziel was partying at a Houston nghtclub when trouble found him. Manziel reportedly gave the middle finger to a group of hecklers, causing the unruly party-goers to toss drinks at the Heisman winner. Drink throwers were tossed from the club themselves, and after a trip back to the hotel for some clean clothes, Manziel and his crew partied on.
January 10, 2015: Loggainsand offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan separate from the Browns organization.
January 23, 2015: ESPNreleases a report covering the season that was with Johnny Manziel and theCleveland Browns. While some players offered support, others referred toManziel as a 100 percent joke
February 2, 2015: Reports surface that JohnnyManziel has entered rehab.
This is a sign that Manziel truly is aware of the issuessurrounding his lifestyle and has a desire to get that corrected. Manziel mayor may not have the athletic ability to succeed in the NFL, but the commonconsensus is that the biggest issue has been his maturity. After what should bea completely different offseason than the last, Manziel will return to workwith the Cleveland Browns once his rehab stint is complete.
This is now Johnny Football's team, and opponents know it.
According to FOX Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer, there are defensive players who are discussing how to handle Johnny Manziel's introduction to the league.
"There are defensive players who said they'd take a 15-yard penalty to welcome him to the NFL," Glazer said.
Bengals defensive players aren't sure what they're going to do "if we can get our hands on this guy," according to Glazer. Manziel is making is first career start on Sunday against the Bengals.
Also, Manziel took to heart reports that he wasn't named the starter last Sunday against the Colts because he went to a Cavaliers game the Tuesday prior when the Browns hadn't yet named a quarterback.
This week, Glazer said, Manziel showed up earlier, left a lot later so his teammates could feel like "you can trust me with the keys to the car," Glazer said.
Johnny Manziel showed up to FirstEnergy Stadium shortly after 10:50 a.m., around the same time as many players and coaches. A white SUV dropped him off. By 11:03, he was walking onto the field with headphones and an assistant coach close by.
Manziel probably threw 100 pregame passes. Got a ton of work. After jogging around the field on a misty yet calm Sunday, Manziel threw dozens of quick outs to a group of receivers with no helmet on. He worked on three-step drops, five-step drops, worked out of the shotgun. Everything was quick and decisive.
Then, with a helmet on, he threw deep lobs to the tight ends, running backs and receivers. At one point, Manziel took off his helmet to tell Josh Gordon something before fielding a shotgun snap.
And now the game is here.
ESPN senior NFL writer
Previously a college football reporter for CBSSports.com
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel lays on the field after being pressured by Buffalo bill Kyle Williams during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014 (AP Photo/The Buffalo News, Harry Scull Jr.)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- We're not sure what Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was thinking when he laid down motionless in the endzone for a moment (or two or three) Sunday after losing the ball and getting pummeled by the Bills.
Was he sleepy? Was he just taking it all in? Was he wondering what's the deal with those Bills fans in those silly Buffalo wing hats?
Whatever is was, it didn't take long for the birth of a new #Manzielingmeme that had nothing to do with flashing the money sign, floating on a swan or talking into a money phone.
