Johnny Manziel was drafted to play quarterback, but on July 25, on the eve of the first practice of training camp, the rookie flash from Texas A&M was all about playing defense.
Before reporters could ask about a string of off-field exploits that did not put Manziel or his new team in a favorable light, the Browns’ current No. 2 quarterback admitted making rookie mistakes and now says he is ‘football 24/7.’ He said the same thing at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
‘Just to save you guys a lot of time, me and Coach (Mike) Pettine and (General Manager) Ray Farmer have really talked about a lot of things that have transpired over the course of the offseason,’ Manziel said. ‘For me, my main thing is, people within this building, my teammates, the coaching staff, the higher-ups in this organization, we’ve all been on the same page, we’ve all been good and very eager to be moving forward.
‘At the end of the day, I’ve made some rookie mistakes. There’s some things that I wish I could’ve gone back and done a little differently, but I’m continuing to move forward and trying to represent this organization in a positive manner and a positive light, so just very excited to be back in camp and it’s football 24/7 and that’s what I love doing. That’s what I live for and it’s what my job, so for me, I’m very excited to be back and can’t wait to get this underway.”
Pettine wouldn’t talk about the rolled-up money photo, either. He said Manziel is ‘very focused’ despite all of Manziel’s shenanigans. Manziel, the other rookies, quarterbacks and injured veterans had to report July 23. He said Manziel is ahead of where the coaches thought he would be.
‘He’s very focused,’ Pettine said. ‘That’s already showed up by the way he attacked his conditioning tests and how he’s been in the meeting room and on the field these past couple days.’
Highlights, or lowlights, of Manziel’s free time since being drafted May 8 include partying in New York just hours after being drafted, partying in Las Vegas, riding an inflatable swan in a swimming pool while sucking a magnum of champagne and, most recently, being photographed in Austin, Tex., on July 5 rolling up a dollar bill in a men’s room.
Despite his preemptive strike to start his press conference, Manziel was asked about the rolled-up money photo and predictably did not want to talk about it. But he can’t resist saying he can do what he wants with his free time.
‘I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me going out and having a nightlife, having a social life,’ Manziel said. ‘I mean. I’m 21 years old and I do like going out and it was the offseason.
‘It’s free time for us, and if I want to go out and hang out with my friends or go to nightclubs or do things like that, then I think that’s within my rights to be doing that and I think there’s other guys throughout the league that are doing that and I’m not trying to compare myself to anybody else, but I think that’s within my rights to be doing that.’
Manziel on LeBron
Manziel is fired up about LeBron James leaving the Miami Heat for a second tour with the Cavaliers.
‘Obviously, I think it’s great for this city,’ Manziel said. ‘I think it’s great for the Cavs. I think it’s great for me. He’s obviously a very good friend of mine; now moving forward pretty much a business partner of mine.
‘I’ve exchanged texts back and forth and him being in the area, right down the road definitely excites me. It’s going to be awesome to go to Cavs games and watch the best basketball player in the world play, so I’m very excited and excited he can come watch us play and be involved with this program again like he was before. More than anything, I’m happy for him and his family and being able to come back home and he loves it here.’
Gordon runs
Josh Gordon reported with the other veterans July 25 and passed his conditioning test, so he will be on the practice field for the first practice of training camp on July 26. Gordon on Aug. 1 in New York will appeal his pending suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
‘We welcomed all of our players back, Josh in particular,’ Pettine said. ‘It was good to see him out there running.’
Pettine said ‘It’s business as usual’ until he gets word from the league about Gordon’s status (he faces an indefinite suspension that could last more than a year).
Gordon reportedly spent two weeks in a rehab clinic in California after being arrested in North Carolina on DUI charges.
‘I’m happy for him,’ Browns cornerback Joe Haden said. ‘I’m here for J.G. I love him like a brother. We’re just here for support, and for him to do that is a big step. That means that something’s going on, and he’s trying to fix a problem.’
Pettine said Gordon said ‘hello’ and not much more when he reported.
Pads on Monday
The practices July 26 and July 27 are to get the players acclimated to training camp. Players will be in pads for the first time July 28. Pettine plans for his players to be in pads for most mornings during camp except for days before a preseason game.
