Whether you love him or hate him, Texas A&M Aggies quarterback, Johnny “Football” Manziel has skills, heart, and determination. Many rumors have surfaced about the Cleveland Browns expressing strong interest and expressing disinterest in the Hollywood-type player. So what exactly is all the hype about the Texas native?
To understand Manziel, we must look back to everything from his college career. What exactly made Manziel become Johnny Football?
Before the start of the 2012 season, Texas A&M students and fans gave him the nickname that is actually trademarked. As a red shirt freshman, Manziel lit up the college football world, becoming the first “true” freshman to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.
With sixteen MVP or Player-of-the-Year awards throughout his short career, Manziel has been the talk of college football for the last two years. When we watch his style of play and charisma, we can’t help but love the way he plays the game of football. Many of those YouTube highlights we’ve seen are flat-out ridiculous. Without question, Johnny Football’s leadership, moxie, and desire to win is something you wish every quarterback had.
However, there are a few character issues with the young man too. Being sent home from the Manning Passing Academy is never a good thing. And, what about all the hoopla with the autograph scandal? Off-field problems and responsibility is the last thing Browns fans should have to worry about with their field general, isn’t it? But, let’s forget character issues for now. Do the statistics in his two years with the Aggies back up all the hype? Take a look and decide for yourself.
Career Statistics at Texas A&M
Completion % Pass Yards Pass TDs Interceptions Rush Yards Rush TDs
68.9 7,820 63 22 2,169 30
Now, granted these are just two years, but will these numbers and his “run first” mentality translate in the NFL? Just to put these figures in somewhat of a perspective, Colt McCoy had similar passing numbers in his last two years at Texas. Manziel was more of a runner than McCoy.
Colt McCoy’s Career Statistics at Texas (his last 2 years)
Completion % Pass Yards Pass TDs Interceptions Rush Yards Rush TDs
73.7 7,380 61 20 909 14
What’s my point?
The million dollar question the Cleveland Browns must ask themselves is simple – Can we afford to select Johnny Manziel with the fourth overall pick or trade up to select him higher with the state that the franchise is in?
My answer is no and this is the most important draft in franchise history. A complete miss or dud with the no. 4 pick could set the team back again. This has been stated many times by this writer.
Both Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer seem to be high on Brian Hoyer. With one of the deepest drafts in long time, there are other quarterbacks in later rounds that could be the future quarterback of the orange-and-brown.
Does this writer like Manziel? Absolutely, I think with time, positive coaching, and the right mental attitude he could be a good quarterback in the league. I just don’t like him for the Cleveland Browns.
Ryan Ruiz is the Cleveland Browns Beat Writer for The Inscriber: Digital Magazine. You can follow him on Facebook: Ryan (BrownsWriter) Ruiz and Twitter @ryanpruiz24. Ryan is also a Browns correspondent for The Sportsfix. Tune in every Friday at noon on www.thesportsfix.net. Email Ryan at ryan.ruiz@theinscribermag.com
I may be on an island – but, I don’t care…nothing new. I am not sold on the quarterbacks coming out in 2014..no more than I’ve been the last several years.
I’ve been trying very hard to find the status this new crop of NFL prospects have been been bestowed upon them by fans and the draft “gurus” – Top Prospects….and I find none.
The collectivists all speak from the same teleprompter: “He has a big arm, can make all the throws, and has the size”.
“…and if you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it.”
If those three elements are the golden micrometers…the benchmark for a franchise quarterback, then why have we witnessed so many first round failures the past five years?
The paradigm to the physical make-up is bordering cultism – that no quarterback could ever be successful without those two elements: Big man, even bigger arm.
It’s a love-affair with the physical, rather than the intangibles. Over the past several years, I find every fan repeating what every other fan speaks…and none ask the questions that get to the heart & soul of a quarterback. Mention anything else, and those fans pounce on you like pride of lions…
All the quarterbacks heading into May have some qualities….and all have the “stats”. People love those stats! But stats never tell the whole story, especially the details. If stats are the measuring stick, then Colt McCoy should have been the next Joe Montana.
This draft is like many others…big men with big arms. That seems to intoxicate fans like no other. Fans argue – how many short quarterbacks do you ever see make it in the NFL? Well, in reality – and in truth, how many less than ideal quarterbacks have ever really had a fair shot?
Standing on this island all by myself – I am content taking a less than ideal size quarterback who possesses all of the intangibles than a big man, big arm quarterback with very few intangibles.