Book it: Next Johnny Manziel sighting will be a return to rehab

The next step for Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is a return to rehab – you can bet on that.

I’ve successfully sworn off gambling, but if I fall of the wagon here’s the first bet I’m laying down:

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel will check back into rehab, maybe even before Dawg Pound Daily posts this prediction. If you can find an off-shore betting site, a neighborhood bookmaker or just a pal at work who’ll take the action – make the bet. It’s a lock.

Manziel no-showed Sunday morning to a mandatory session with team doctors, giving the you-know-what to his team, and more importantly, the millions of loyal Browns fans worldwide who did take three hours of their free time watching and hoping for an upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Johnny failed to punch in for work. Contrast that attitude with another local ballplayer’s view how Northeast Ohioans show up for work – every day.

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A return to in-patient rehab is the only logical next step — and that was before last night’s breaking news that Manziel reportedly tried to hide his Las Vegas vacation by wearing a blond wig, fake mustache and hoodie, while calling himself “Billy.”

Actually, Manziel is a pretty good split personality composite – Donald Trump, Groucho Marx and coach Bill Belichick – Manziel has displayed character traits of each. It’s fitting that he took the moniker of someone who also battled demons while publicly embarrassing those that cared most about him, former President Jimmy Carter’s late brother, Billy.

Here’s how we see it unfolding:

• one of the national NFL reporters will exclusively break the story.
• Manziel will then “take responsibility” by issuing a statement apologizing for letting down his fans, for failing to follow his recovery program, and for again embarrassing the Browns organization. He will use words like “making amends,” “doing the next right thing” and “one day at a time.”
• The Browns will respond with a one paragraph stating they support Johnny’s decision and pray for his recovery.
• Then in his first call as executive vice president of football operations, Sashi Brown should call Manziel’s agent and advise him that Manziel will remain property of the Browns until they can obtain just compensation – no lower than a third round pick. But his client will never take another snap wearing a Browns’ jersey.

It is what we refer to as “Griffining.” That is essentially what the Washington Redskins did to their once-wonder boy quarterback, Robert Griffin III, who never took a snap for the Redskins this season.

And Washington is hosting a playoff game this Sunday.