No more Johnny Football? Ex-Browns QB Manziel says he's going by 'John' now as he tries to 'turn over the page' after struggling with substance abuse issues and flaming out of the NFL
Johnny Football is rebranding.
Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel told 'The Dan Patrick Show' that he wants to be known as 'John' from now on as he attempts to mature after battling drug and alcohol issues in recent years.
'I have a little update for you,' he told the former ESPN-turned-radio host, Patrick. 'I actually go by John these days. So, I'm kind of just turning over the page and moving forward a little bit.'
Patrick asked Manziel if he was growing up, to which the former first-round NFL Draft pick said 'getting there, I guess.'
The 26-year-old Johnny Manziel is a free agent once again after the fledgling Alliance of American Football suspended operations earlier this month. Manziel had been playing for Memphis (pictured) after getting mysteriously booted from the Canadian Football League, where he had played for two teams over the last two season
The 26-year old is a free agent once again after the fledgling Alliance of American Football suspended operations earlier this month. Manziel had been playing for Memphis after getting mysteriously booted from the Canadian Football League, where he had played for two teams over the last two seasons.
Manziel, who recently admitted to battling bipolar disorder, also split with his wife, Bre Tiesi.
Johnny Manziel, who recently admitted to battling bipolar disorder, also split with his wife, Bre Tiesi (right)
In spite of everything, the man who was known as 'Johnny Football' at Texas A&M is still in good spirits.
'Seeing how fast the AAF just evaporated, it caught me as a surprise a little bit because I was having so much fun in Memphis, probably more fun than I've had since my last game at Texas A&M vs. Duke,' Manziel said.
'My plan moving forward is to wake up every day with ... to get back on the field, to continue to work on my craft, whether that's in San Diego with [quarterback guru] George Whitfield and continue to try to get back to what I think I was - a little bit of a surgeon with the football in my hand. I feel good, and I'm just going to continue to keep my head down and keep working on what matters the most to me, and that's football.'
Manziel made over $8 million in his two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, who made him a first-round pick in 2014.
He played in 15 games and made eight starts with the Browns, throwing for 1,675 yards with seven touchdowns.
Manziel had more interceptions (seven) than touchdown passes (five) in his eight games for Montreal last year, while throwing for 1,290 yards.
Known as 'Johnny' at the time, Manziel made over $8 million in his two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, who made him a first-round pick in 2014. He played in 15 games and made eight starts with the Browns, throwing for 1,675 yards with seven touchdowns
His time in Cleveland was marked by tumult that included excessive partying, being AWOL from treatment for a hamstring injury and a stint in rehab.
Manziel famously became the first freshman in NCAA history to win a Heisman in 2012, when he was also named the Associated Press Player of the Year. He would finish his college career with two All-SEC nods in his only two seasons before being drafted by the Browns with the 22nd-overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
He has not played in the NFL since 2015, by which point he had developed a reputation for partying and alcohol abuse after a series of arrests.
In a 2018 interview with Good Morning America, Manziel revealed that he was self-medicating with alcohol and other substances back in 2016 when he got the boot from the Cleveland Browns after two seasons.
Things appeared to be turning around for Manziel when he received permission to sign with the CFL's Hamitlon Tiger-Cats in December 2017 for a reported $122,000.
This season, however, Manziel was acquired by the Montreal Allouettes, only to be released and ultimately banned by the league.
The Alouettes and the CFL did not give a specific reason for Manziel's release, with Montreal general manager Kavis Reed saying in a statement that Manziel violated conditions of his contract.
'We are disappointed by this turn of events. Johnny was provided a great deal of support by our organization, in collaboration with the CFL, but he has been unable to abide by the terms of his agreement. We worked with the league and presented alternatives to Johnny, who was unwilling to proceed,' Reed said in the statement.
Manziel resurfaced with the AAF weeks later, but that league has since suspended operations.
As he told Patrick, he still hopes to return to the NFL.
'Right now I have open discussions with a couple of coaches in the league,' he said. 'I'm trying not to get too up about it or anything that comes my way, so I'm just taking it day by day and trying to make the best of what's going on.'
Manziel was previously in a two-year relationship with Colleen Crowley, who he is accused of hitting, kidnapping and threatening to kill following a night of partying in January 2016.
The Dallas County district attorney's office agreed in December 2016 to drop charges against Manziel if he took an anger management course, listened to victims of domestic abuse speak at an impact panel and attended a rehab facility for drug and alcohol abuse.
Crowley claimed in court papers that Manziel hit her so hard during the incident that she lost hearing in her left ear.
- Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel told 'The Dan Patrick Show' that he wants to be known as 'John' from now on as he attempts to mature
- Patrick, the ESPN host-turned-radio personality, asked Manziel if he was growing up, to which the former first-round NFL Draft pick said he's 'getting there'
- The 26-year old is a free agent once again after the fledgling Alliance of American Football suspended operations earlier this month
- Manziel, who has battled bipolar disorder, also split with his wife, Bre Tiesi
- Despite his recent struggles, Manziel is optimistic he can return to the NFL
Johnny Football is rebranding.
Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel told 'The Dan Patrick Show' that he wants to be known as 'John' from now on as he attempts to mature after battling drug and alcohol issues in recent years.
'I have a little update for you,' he told the former ESPN-turned-radio host, Patrick. 'I actually go by John these days. So, I'm kind of just turning over the page and moving forward a little bit.'
Patrick asked Manziel if he was growing up, to which the former first-round NFL Draft pick said 'getting there, I guess.'
The 26-year-old Johnny Manziel is a free agent once again after the fledgling Alliance of American Football suspended operations earlier this month. Manziel had been playing for Memphis (pictured) after getting mysteriously booted from the Canadian Football League, where he had played for two teams over the last two season
The 26-year old is a free agent once again after the fledgling Alliance of American Football suspended operations earlier this month. Manziel had been playing for Memphis after getting mysteriously booted from the Canadian Football League, where he had played for two teams over the last two seasons.
Manziel, who recently admitted to battling bipolar disorder, also split with his wife, Bre Tiesi.
Johnny Manziel, who recently admitted to battling bipolar disorder, also split with his wife, Bre Tiesi (right)
In spite of everything, the man who was known as 'Johnny Football' at Texas A&M is still in good spirits.
'Seeing how fast the AAF just evaporated, it caught me as a surprise a little bit because I was having so much fun in Memphis, probably more fun than I've had since my last game at Texas A&M vs. Duke,' Manziel said.
'My plan moving forward is to wake up every day with ... to get back on the field, to continue to work on my craft, whether that's in San Diego with [quarterback guru] George Whitfield and continue to try to get back to what I think I was - a little bit of a surgeon with the football in my hand. I feel good, and I'm just going to continue to keep my head down and keep working on what matters the most to me, and that's football.'
Manziel made over $8 million in his two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, who made him a first-round pick in 2014.
He played in 15 games and made eight starts with the Browns, throwing for 1,675 yards with seven touchdowns.
Manziel had more interceptions (seven) than touchdown passes (five) in his eight games for Montreal last year, while throwing for 1,290 yards.
Known as 'Johnny' at the time, Manziel made over $8 million in his two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, who made him a first-round pick in 2014. He played in 15 games and made eight starts with the Browns, throwing for 1,675 yards with seven touchdowns
His time in Cleveland was marked by tumult that included excessive partying, being AWOL from treatment for a hamstring injury and a stint in rehab.
Manziel famously became the first freshman in NCAA history to win a Heisman in 2012, when he was also named the Associated Press Player of the Year. He would finish his college career with two All-SEC nods in his only two seasons before being drafted by the Browns with the 22nd-overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
He has not played in the NFL since 2015, by which point he had developed a reputation for partying and alcohol abuse after a series of arrests.
In a 2018 interview with Good Morning America, Manziel revealed that he was self-medicating with alcohol and other substances back in 2016 when he got the boot from the Cleveland Browns after two seasons.
Things appeared to be turning around for Manziel when he received permission to sign with the CFL's Hamitlon Tiger-Cats in December 2017 for a reported $122,000.
This season, however, Manziel was acquired by the Montreal Allouettes, only to be released and ultimately banned by the league.
The Alouettes and the CFL did not give a specific reason for Manziel's release, with Montreal general manager Kavis Reed saying in a statement that Manziel violated conditions of his contract.
'We are disappointed by this turn of events. Johnny was provided a great deal of support by our organization, in collaboration with the CFL, but he has been unable to abide by the terms of his agreement. We worked with the league and presented alternatives to Johnny, who was unwilling to proceed,' Reed said in the statement.
Manziel resurfaced with the AAF weeks later, but that league has since suspended operations.
As he told Patrick, he still hopes to return to the NFL.
'Right now I have open discussions with a couple of coaches in the league,' he said. 'I'm trying not to get too up about it or anything that comes my way, so I'm just taking it day by day and trying to make the best of what's going on.'
Manziel was previously in a two-year relationship with Colleen Crowley, who he is accused of hitting, kidnapping and threatening to kill following a night of partying in January 2016.
The Dallas County district attorney's office agreed in December 2016 to drop charges against Manziel if he took an anger management course, listened to victims of domestic abuse speak at an impact panel and attended a rehab facility for drug and alcohol abuse.
Crowley claimed in court papers that Manziel hit her so hard during the incident that she lost hearing in her left ear.
