Johnny Manziel, former Texas A&M star quarterback and first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, has been out of the NFL since the he was released March 2016. But Johnny Football hasn't given up on his dream of NFL success just yet. Manziel recently threw for scouts at a pro day, and though he has hinted that he'd be willing to play in the CFL, he remains focused on returning to the highest level of the game.
Wednesday morning, Manziel gave an interview to Dan Patrick, in which the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner was candid as he reflected on his tumultuous first NFL go-round.
When Patrick asked Manziel what he would do differently if he were given a mulligan, Manziel didn't hold back. He said would have handled his troubled offseason in a different manner, taking his training and preparation more seriously. Manziel added that it's the offseason that makes NFL players great.
Manziel explained that he had too lax of an approach, and when he got to Cleveland, nobody taught him work ethic or helped him figure out the X's and O's of the game—which he didn't learn at Texas A&M because he played in a spread-offense system.
"If Cleveland did any of their homework, they would have known that I was a guy that didn't come in every day and watch film," Manziel said. "I was a guy that didn't really know the X's and O's of football. Nobody was there, like helping me go over the X's and O's, and it was hard. I struggled."
Manziel said he quickly lost confidence in his abilities, as it was the first time he had struggled on the football field since his freshman year of high school.
"That's when the depression started to come," Manziel said.
He said his transition to the league was rough, but he later learned a lot from observing Josh McCown, the veteran quarterback who is one of the most respected leaders in the league. Manziel later clarified his comments on Twitter and took accountability.
Draft a QB in the first round and put him into a toxic Quarterback room vs. what it was like my second year with McCown. COMPLETELY different situation. It’s all about the right fit and mine in Cleveland wasn’t right. That’s just the facts. I also have nobody to blame but myself https://t.co/fuFmtG4vUz
Take it how you want I don’t really care. I’ll always feel some type of way
This isn't the first candid interview Manziel has given recently. In February, he discussed his bipolar diagnosis and his issues with drinking. Listen to more from his interview with Dan Patrick below.
