Johnny Manziel and the NFL Draft
Dec 31, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) carries the ball past Duke Blue Devils linebacker David Helton (47) during the third quarter in the 2013 Chick-fil-a Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Johnny Manziel was quoted as saying the Houston Texans would be making a mistake if they didn’t draft him No. 1 overall in the May NFL Draft.
In fact, he said the following to the Houston Chronicle as John McClain wrote:
"“I want them to say absolutely, without a doubt, with 100-percent certainty, that I’m who they want … I want everybody from the janitor at Reliant Stadium to the front office executive assistant all the way up to (owner) Bob McNair to say, ‘This kid is 100 percent, can’t miss …”"
Then came this comment later in the article from Manziel as McClain wrote:
"“It would be the worst decision they’ve ever made. I’d be in the same division playing against them twice a year.”"
McClain also quotes Manziel saying the following about the possibility of joining the Cleveland Browns:
"“If something happens, and it’s the Cleveland Browns, I’m going to pour my heart out for the Dawg Pound and try to win a Super Bowl for Cleveland …”"
In any of those above comments, I don’t think he’s saying anything that the other quarterbacks in this draft aren’t thinking. Nothing he said made me go “WOW!”
Any top player that doesn’t get selected as the No. 1 overall pick will be playing with a “chip” on their shoulder. Of course, any player who gets selected by the Texans or Browns in this draft wants to be the one to take them to a Super Bowl and win it.
I’m not against Manziel having success in the NFL or saying he’s not correct in his above comments, but what I am saying is don’t get your hopes up too much either way.
If the Texans select Manziel, fine, I can see it possibly happening, but it will take more than a rookie QB to turn around the franchise.
I like how Manziel is trying to get rid of the “Johnny Football” moniker, but this is the NFL, not the SEC and because he had great success at the collegiate level doesn’t guarantee success at the top level in all of football.
My thing is keep the “Super Bowl” and “hype” talk away until something is actually proven in the NFL, because we’ve all seen many times that a lot of the QBs will be on the bench or out of the NFL before their first contract is ever completed, but that is the nature of the NFL.
I hope the best for Manziel because he is fun to watch play football, but it is going to take more than a couple quotes to really get me behind Manziel and to make me change my mind on either Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater or even defensive end Jadeveon Clowney as my No. 1 overall pick.
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