Hue Jackson: We’ve talked about Johnny Manziel enough

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson is looking for high character players and that apparently does not include Johnny Manziel.

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson met with the media on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine and gave further indication that it is a new day for the Browns.

And for anyone who still believes that quarterback Johnny Manziel will be part of that change, well they may need to wise up.

“I want to make sure we all understand that that behavior will not be tolerated as we move forward,” Jackson said of Manziel’s continuing off-field antics. “And that’s all I want to say about it. I want to leave it at that. Our organization is going to take a stand. And we’re going to move on from those kind of situations as we move forward.

“I knew that question was coming, but I think we all know and understand that we made a statement two weeks ago about Johnny Manziel and I’m going to stand by that. I think his future on our team will be addressed here pretty soon.”

“We’ve talked about Johnny enough.” – Head coach Hue Jackson on Johnny Manziel

It has been widely reported, and generally accepted, that the Browns will release Manziel as soon as the new league year begins on March 9. The only thing holing them back, especially in light of the ongoing criminal investigation of Manziel in Dallas, is an issue with the salary cap.

While there is little doubt that the Browns are done with Manziel, Jackson’s comments about looking for players with high character could also have an impact on wide receiver Josh Gordon, who is waiting for an NFL ruling on his reinstatement, and linebacker Armonty Bryant, who plead not guilty in court on Wednesday on two felony drug possession charges.

Jackson said he will meet with Gordon once he is officially reinstated and has already spoken with Bryant.

So do they still have a future with the Browns?

More from Dawg Pound Daily

• How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
• Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
• 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
• Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
• 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target

“Every situation’s different,” Jackson said. “I think they all will be weighted and thought through. But I do, I stand on that, I want guys that have high character and guys that have high football character. And I think those two are a little different.

“Obviously there’s been some things well documented about some players here and again I take them on a case-by-case basis and see if they fit exactly what it is that I’m talking about when I’m saying that.

“But I’m not going to bend them, I don’t think you can. I don’t think this day and age in pro football that you can. I think it’s too important, and I think it’s too important to the football team and too important to the organization.

“It’s like any other player. I think I will go through the process of spending time with (Josh) and see if it’s the right fit for us. Obviously he’s a very talented individual, but at the same time, it’s got to fit right for us as we move forward in this situation.

“We’ll be fine. I think (Armonty) has talent, but again, it’s not just about talent.”

Manziel has made his inevitable release an easy call. How Jackson and the Browns handle Gordon and Bryant may not be quite as easy.

But no one ever said that changing the culture in Cleveland was ever going to be easy.