There’s no doubt that just over a decade ago, the most media-hyped figure in both the NFL and NCAA was Johnny Manziel, who dominated headlines after his outstanding performances with Texas A&M. Let’s remember that at just 19 years old, he led his team through a historic season, beating Alabama in their own stadium and becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy.
He was so famous that his nickname was “Johnny Football,” a young Texan who drew everyone’s attention. In the 2014 NFL Draft, Johnny Manziel was selected in the first round by the Cleveland Browns. There was a lot of excitement around him, but it all fell apart due to a lack of discipline, poor work ethic, and many other issues.
In two seasons, he only managed 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Endless parties, alcohol-related scandals, and a domestic violence accusation forced the Browns to cut him in 2016, and no other NFL team ever gave him another chance.
The idea of returning to the NFL has crossed Johnny Manziel’s mind
Since 2015, Johnny Manziel hasn’t played in the NFL. In 2018, the quarterback spoke about how he was facing his struggles with mental health and alcohol. He attempted a comeback playing football in Canada, but it was unsuccessful.
The media-driven Johnny Manziel recently appeared on Logan Paul’s podcast “Impaulsive,” where he was asked if he still dreamed of playing in the NFL. His answer was yes, although in reality, it seems nearly impossible.
“I asked myself this question last year (if I could return to the NFL)… I got into a mindset of: ‘Okay, I’m going to start training again, throwing the ball, see if I can still get myself in shape…’
I remember calling my agent and saying, ‘I think I’m going to try a comeback.’ And he told me, ‘Okay, we’ll start talking to some teams, UFL, XFL.’ And I was just sitting there thinking, ‘There’s no way I’m going to play in one of those leagues… UFL… XFL… something like that.'”
Shedeur Sanders could see his own reflection in Johnny Manziel’s story. That’s why the current Cleveland Browns quarterback must focus on working hard and staying out of off-the-field trouble, because with the level of fame he has, NFL teams could shut the door on him – just like they did to Manziel on Draft Day.
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