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Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel unsurprisingly clears waivers

By Thomas Moore

Dec 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) walks along the sidelines after throwing an interception late in the fourth quarter in a game againt the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks won 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) walks along the sidelines after throwing an interception late in the fourth quarter in a game againt the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks won 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) walks along the sidelines after throwing an interception late in the fourth quarter in a game againt the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks won 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) walks along the sidelines after throwing an interception late in the fourth quarter in a game againt the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks won 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /

The Cleveland Browns released quarterback Johnny Manziel on Friday, and to the surprise of absolutely no one he cleared waivers on Saturday.

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel cleared waivers on Saturday afternoon and is now a free agent and can sign with any team that wants him.

The fact that no team was willing to put in a waiver claim on Manziel is probably the most unsurprising news in NFL history.

Even though the Browns are finally done with one of the biggest first-round busts in franchise history, they still are responsible for the final two years of his rookie contract at a total of $2,173, 997. The Browns are expected to try and recoup some of that money if Manziel is disciplined in his ongoing domestic violence case – either by police in Dallas or by the NFL itself.

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In two years with the Browns since being selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, Manziel made eight starts, compiling a 2-6 record, passed for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions, fumbled seven times and completed just 57 percent of his passes.

He also:

  • Was photographed drinking from a bottle of champagne while floating in a pool atop an inflatable swan at a bar in Austin, Texas.
  • Had a video show up on Instagram while holding a stack of money to his ear and pretending it’s a phone.
  • Had a photograph online showing him tightly rolling a dollar bill in the bathroom of a bar.
  • Willingly took off his rookie year without telling his coaches
  • Spent time in an alcohol and drug addiction treatment center
  • Openly lied to his coaches about what he did during the bye week
  • Is being investigated by a grand jury for an incident with his former girlfriend
  • Reportedly showed up at practice drunk
  • Reportedly spent the final week of the season in Las Vegas rather than with team
  • Is a below-average quarterback in just about every important measurable at the NFL level

As for what comes next for Manziel now that he is not the Browns problem, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if no other team is willing to take a gamble on a player who is more interested in being an Internet sensation than a professional quarterback.

Many believed that the Dallas Cowboys would fall all over themselves to pick up Manziel once he is free, but that does not seem to be the case, according to dallasnews.com:

"A source said the club has no intention of bringing the former Heisman Trophy winner in for a visit or signing him now that he’s been released by Cleveland. That same source said the Cowboys won’t pursue the quarterback and doesn’t forsee the club having any serious discussions about him, “until he gets his life back in order.”"

"Addiction concerns cloud Manziel’s future. He’s a backup who has shown more of a dedication to partying than his craft. He appears to crave celebrity over improvement . He enjoys the status of what it means to be an NFL quarterback but runs from the responsibility inherent in the position."

If/when the 2016 NFL season kicks off and Manziel is not on anyone’s roster, he will become just the fourth quarterback in modern league history to have been drafted in the first round, then not been on an NFL roster in their third season, according to Fox Sports, joining:

  • Cade McNown, No. 12 pick, 1999, Chicago Bears, 2 years, 3-12 record
  • Jim Druckenmiller, No. 26 pick, 1997, San Francisco 49ers, 2 years, 1-0 record
  • Todd Marinovich, No. 24 pick, 1991, Los Angeles Raiders, 2 years, 3-5 record

The article also brings up a point that Manziel apologists have never been willing to accept:

"Or maybe Manziel never had it. Being a successful quarterback in the NFL takes two things: talent and dedication. Perhaps the former was, like Tim Tebow, a college-specific aptitude. And as for dedication? At least Tebow had that. If Manziel hasn’t gotten the picture yet that simply being Johnny Manziel is not good enough to make him successful in the NFL, why would anyone ever expect him to in the future?"

Manziel was a mistake from the moment that his name was called on draft night in 2014 and he walked across the stage flashing his “Money Manziel” sign to the crowd.

Hopefully he gets the help he so desperately needs, but fortunately he is no longer the Browns’ problem.

Next: Browns sign two in free agency

Free agency rolls along and the NFL Draft is on the horizon. Be sure to follow Dawg Pound Daily to keep up with everything the Browns are trying to do while they go through their latest biennial rebuilding project.

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