Opinion: Johnny Manziel is done in Cleveland and likely the NFL
Johnny being Johnny.
How many times have we heard that?
Johnny Manziel made headlines for the wrong reasons over the weekend, after an alleged domestic violence incident with his girlfriend Colleen Crowley in Avon township.
Crowley told police that Manziel hit her a few times and pushed her head into the glass of the car. She later said Manziel didn’t harm her, and he also denied it.
Manziel admittedly told officers he and his girlfriend had a couple of drinks at a nearby restaurant.
If you remember, Manziel spent several weeks in rehab before the start of the 2015 NFL season due to his excessive drinking and destructive behavior.
As you would imagine, Manziel was released from rehab a changed man and vowed to regain the trust from his teammates. The statement read: “I take full responsibility for my actions and it’s my intention to work very hard to regain everyone’s trust and respect. I understand that will take time and will only happen through what I do and not what I say.”
Manziel was starting to gain confidence from his teammates and coaching staff, after an impressive victory over the Tennessee Titans in week 2 of the season.
Manziel showed flashes of his Heisman trophy winning form, but this was the only time we’ve seen such flashes.
The former star quarterback from Texas A&M has yet to live up to his first round draft status and has become more trouble than good.
He has been embroiled in controversy since he walked through the door in 2014 and now with the dark cloud of domestic violence looming over Manziel and the Browns organization’s proverbial head; I highly doubt he remains on the team.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach and NFL today analyst for CBS Bill Cowher said he would get rid of Manziel on the heels of his latest off-field incident involving his girlfriend.
“I would ask for his release,” Cowher said on NFL Today. “I would do it for this reason: in that locker room players want accountability … and that’s the message that needs to be sent right here, that you’re accountable for your action.”
I agree with Bill Cowher. It seems time and time again Manziel finds himself in the headlines for things not related to football.
In light of this incident, the Browns decided to activate Manziel for last Sunday’s game against the Broncos, even though they knew about the accusations aimed at him.
If the Browns and the NFL want to maintain the trust from fans, Manziel should not only be cut, but should be on the NFL’s football exempt list until this matter is handled.
As the sports saying goes, “There is not one person bigger than the team”. But, Manziel has been bigger than the team and it’s time to cut ties with him.
For the NFL, who’s been drenched in controversy after controversy, has to save face here and place Manziel on the exempt list.
Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald, Ray Rice and others have all been held accountable for their actions. All have been cut and placed on the NFL exempt list as well.
The league and Browns will send the wrong message to fans and players if they don’t handle the Manziel situation correctly.
The Browns should cut Johnny Manziel today and it’s fair to say his days in the NFL are numbered.
Ray Strickland is an opinion writer for The Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].