Eight months ago, we wrote about how we wished the Vikings had drafted Johnny Manziel instead of Teddy Bridgewater. Years from now, we might insist this was just some sort of reverse psychology in order to spare us embarrassment.
For now, though, we will continue to come clean and provide more evidence of Manziel's troubled rookie year (which stands in contrast to Bridgewater's uneven but certainly promising rookie year).
ESPN went deep on the Browns and their QB. Here is a taste:
The former Heisman Trophy winner had been passed over 21 times, prompting a text from Manziel to then-Browns quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains that he wanted to "wreck this league" in Cleveland. The words were actually more R-rated, but the implication was clear.
Twitter erupted at the selection. A Cleveland radio host cheered and screamed openly on air. Manziel gave his "money" sign as he walked onstage to greet Roger Goodell.
By season's end, cheering had turned to frustration and anger as Manziel struggled mightily in almost six quarters as a starter, then was fined for being AWOL the final Saturday of the season. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan resigned with two years left on his contract. Loggains was fired. The Browns openly discussed Manziel's viability as the franchise's quarterback at a wide-ranging postseason staff meeting about the roster. And at least a couple of Manziel's teammates were joking his text should have read "wreck this team."
The takeaway from the peel-back-the-curtain look at Manziel's rookie year is that there is, of course, still time for Manziel to get things right — but his actions have to start matching his words.
