Johnny Manziel’s ‘heart wasn’t in it’ playing for Cleveland Browns

Johnny Manziel said he did not have the motivation when playing for the Cleveland Browns.

Johnny Manziel has long been out of the minds of Cleveland Browns fans considering the last time he appeared on their official depth chart was in March of 2016. When the Browns fired Ray Farmer as general manager and hired Sashi Brown, releasing Manziel was one of Brown’s first personnel moves.

Manziel’s short tenure with the team who drafted him in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft led many to wonder: What happened? Although he was not going to be the next Tom Brady as a passer, he brought a new skill-set to the position that Robert Griffin III showed a few years prior could be difficult for NFL defenses to handle.

However, it quickly became evident Manziel was not made to be a NFL quarterback. His skills that made him a Heisman-winning quarterback did not seem to translate to the NFL. He also could not escape his party lifestyle.

Now out of professional football altogether, Manziel said his football days are probably “in the past.” In an interview with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal discussing his new life out of football, Manziel briefly explained why his professional career did not pan out.

"“During that time when I got drafted, I didn’t put in the time that I needed to be a great player and I don’t think my heart was in it,” Manziel said. “And I think when I went back to Canada, it was the same way. I truly believed and truly thought it was what I wanted to do, and my heart wasn’t in it, and it worked out the way it did.” – Manziel via Lubbock Avalanche-Journal"

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Manziel also explained that it was the work he had to put in during the free hours of the day that he was not willing to do. He believed he was “better than the game,” and the game humbled him when it proved he was not putting in enough work.

In his two seasons with the Browns, Manziel showed a couple of flashes that created some excitement. But during most of his time with the Browns, Manziel showed questionable decision-making, both on and off the field.

The Browns were willing to give him opportunities, but he never took advantage of them when he was on the field. Without putting in the work during the week, Manziel was unprepared to be a starter in the NFL.

Although there was potential for Manziel to have success in the NFL, he was going to need to grow as a quarterback. Because he may not have wanted to deal with the rigors of being an NFL quarterback, Manziel never made any of the growth he needed to and resembled more of a college quarterback playing in the NFL.

After being released by the Browns, Manziel did not get another shot in the NFL. It wasn’t until 2018 that Manziel would get another shot to play football, starting his new career in the Canadian Football League.

However, after one season in the CFL, the league barred Manziel from playing for any team in the league because he “contravened” the terms of his CFL contract. It did not take long for Manziel to find a new home, as he signed a deal with the Memphis Express for the new league, the Alliance of American Football. The league suspended operations shortly after.

The life of “Johnny Football” overcame the life of Johnny Manziel, which caused his football career to spiral downward and even put his personal in a dangerous place. But after learning from his mistakes and escaping from the stresses from football, it appears Manziel has figured out what he needs to do to be a better person and live a happier life.