It wasn’t that long ago that many thought Johnny Manziel was a football prodigy.
Sure, there was a large chunk of teams and fans that could read through the tragic aura of Johnny Football, but plenty still felt he was destined to become a franchise quarterback.
Even Jerry Jones had to be talked out of drafting him…
One of the best games I ever watched! Too bad Johnny was just a flash in the pan. Spoiled,privileged up bringing turned out to be his ruin.
— daisy brewer (@daisybr93583150) May 10, 2020
We all know how the Johnny Football story played out.
There’s a solid Netflix documentary showcasing his downfall in case you need a refresher…
Johnny Manziel 🤝 Johnny Football
UNTOLD: Johnny Football is now on Netflix pic.twitter.com/pP2X0lGkVO
— Netflix (@netflix) August 8, 2023
Appearing on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast, Manziel spoke about how he partied his way out of the NFL.
His constant partying combined with his horrific work-ethic led to many negative changes, including to his physical appearance.
As a matter of fact, Manziel spoke about one particular time when he had a significant drop in weight.
“I was 210 pounds when I left Cleveland. I was 170 pounds sitting in Vegas that August, that September, that October, whatever it was later in that year,” he told Sharpe.
Sharpe was curious how he could lose so much weight in such a short period of time … That’s when Manziel filled him in on his unique method.
“How do you lose 40 pounds? You’re on a strict diet of blow,” Manziel confessed.
“How do you lose 40 pounds? You’re on a strict diet of blow” -Johnny Manzielpic.twitter.com/xj6h4qEI4k
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 22, 2024
Despite the concerning physical and mental toll, Manziel found himself unable to break free from the cycle of addiction as his football career went down the drain.
“I remember these pictures came out,” he recalled. “And I was like, ‘Damn. What am I doing? Whatever, we’ll figure that out later. Let’s go again.'”
Johnny Manziel's partying has to account for at least 75% of Mexico's GDP at this point. pic.twitter.com/qRJ4w7WL3M
— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) June 28, 2016
Manziel also recalled the toxic dynamics within the Browns quarterback room, singling out Brian Hoyer as a significant source of discomfort.
“My quarterback room was not a home for me, because of Brian Hoyer,” he said.
“Brian Hoyer had been waiting on opportunity to go really provide for his family, get an opportunity, and he saw how much of an upper hand he had on me – and he didn’t hold back when it came to that.”
“So there were instances in the quarterback room early on where I would ask the same question a couple of times, and he’d be at the head of the table and go, ‘Again? We’re doing this again?’”
https://twitter.com/CobyValentine/status/1760381253201653967
Manziel admitted he didn’t really understand what hard work was since everything came so easy to him when he was younger.
“I didn’t know what work like that was. I didn’t know what the grind was because I was great at Texas A&M without it. So a sense of entitlement comes in that I can do it the same way because I don’t know any better,” he said.
“So when you have that going on in the quarterback room, I ain’t speaking … If I question something, I’m not asking. I’m embarrassed. I’m getting dogged by a guy who is supposed to be my teammate when I’m trying to figure it out.”
(For what it’s worth, Hoyer has completely denied Manziel’s accusations.)
Johnny Manziel recently spoke on his rookie season with the Browns saying "The QB room was not a home for be because of Brian Hoyer."@bhoyer7 responds ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/74WZwrYQIg
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) February 27, 2024
The shots didn’t stop there as Manziel also went after his former Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin.
Manziel made it clear that his relationship with Sumlin “will forever be great,” but he also clarified that they don’t have much of a relationship and only speak about once a year. (In other words, maybe the relationship isn’t so great after all!)
As a matter of fact, Manziel felt like Sumlin was hypocritical during their time together in College Station…
“I think where our relationship fell out a little bit was: How do you have a guy who’s a grown man – I look back on this now, reflective on this – how do you have a guy who’s a grown man, telling me what I should do?”
Johnny Manziel on Kevin Sumlin:
“I love that guy and we were best buddies, but how do you have a guy telling you how to live, put away the partying and all that, when he’s doing the same thing behind doors?”
Later states that he’s not shocked Sumlin is no longer a head coach.… pic.twitter.com/hVSGqWETmq
— Jaxson Callaway (AT) (@AggiesToday) February 21, 2024
“Obviously, my coach, my guy I’m looking up to, my head football coach is telling me to live a certain way and put all this partying behind you, but if you know anything about Kevin Sumlin and what he’s doing behind the scenes …,” Manziel said, referring to Sumlin’s alleged partying ways.
“From my eyes, it’s hypocritical,” Manziel concluded.
Johnny Manziel reveals his father had a meeting with Head Coach Kevin Sumlin to stay at Texas A&M for 2 more years for $3 million under the table. 👀
(via:@ClubShayShay) pic.twitter.com/dfiUuKDUz6
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) February 21, 2024
Whether true or not, Manziel taking shots at Hoyer is not the greatest of looks.
Regardless, he has clearly come to terms with the fact that he self-sabotaged himself out of the NFL.
He seems to be in a much better place nowadays.
Johnny Manziel’s girlfriend Kenzie Werner says she was hacked after graphic domestic violence photos posted & that photos were actually from an accident at work pic.twitter.com/Rj9vqIWWrj
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) April 21, 2023
What are your thoughts on Johnny Football?
Did you think he was going to be a good quarterback in the NFL? … Or did you always know that he was never going to make it?
On a side note, just imagine how much more damaged Manziel would have been if NIL was around when he played at Texas A&M???
