Johnny Manziel

[leechlake]

You may be asking why I'm posting on Manziel here; when at all practically possible I post in the cooking thread seems easier, it is Sunday and we have our Boar Vikes/Packer contest today.

Manziel was gambling in Vegas last night, Saturday.  He has a concussion and can't play and the Browns play the Steelers in Cleveland today.  Beyond saying "who cares" I guess I must admit I do care to see a kid so screwed up.  Per the USA today article he did some sort of treatment in Cleveland Saturday morning and then ended up in Vegas later that day.  I have a ton of questions:

1.  does he have a dad?

2.  could he find a mentor?

3.  does he literally not care, think it's over and has just flatly given up?

My amateur theory is that the kid couldn't handle always being on a pedestal.  He was on that pedestal from the day he began playing football; youth, HS, College, Pro (for a while).  I rarely watch the NFL draft but my son was the year he slipped and slipped and slipped as the draft picks went on.  For most that would have humbled them, bummed them out.  When he was finally picked he acted like he was the first pick in the first round.

Something inside me thinks that if about 7 of us on here could get the kid deer hunting or ice fishing with us on a regular basis we'd either want to quit hunting or ice fishing or we'd straighten the kid out.  Also...he needs to buy a smoker and spend some time tinkering with that instead of other things.

 

 

[reinhard1]

I'd like to ponder this some more but I judge these pro athletes by more than just on the field performance.  In his case, it seems right now he is not accepting that he has problems.  Otherwise he would get some serious help instead of just going through the motions to satisfy the owners or perhapst the NFL.  Kind of reminds me of the kid in Mexico right now who claimed affluenza for killing 4 people.  Just comparing the affluenza part here.  Maybe just a spoiled kid from the get-go.  I also watched the draft.  He was so shocked when he wasn't chosen No.1  Then as the draft went on he just sat there in a "I cant believe this" attitude.  When he was chosen by the Browns, it looked to me like he had this "What me go to the Browns" look.  Didn't matter who drafted him, the team would have had the same results.  If I were the Browns owner I would release this guy, flat out.  They will pick high enough in the coming draft to pick another young QB.  I am a Christian however, and in that regard I would give him the best care I could to clear his mind of all the negative issues he has.  Hate to see this happen to anyone.  I do believe it all starts at home.  Somewhere there he started down this path.  Where are his parents?  good luck.

[ThunderLund78]

It's not that he couldn't handle the pedestal, it's that there was TOO MUCH pedestal.  He was a high school and college phenomenon, the game came easy for him.  His entire football career to that point was everyone celebrating how good he was.  Unfortunatley, in our society, the indulgences come with that -- everyone looked the other way because he was so good, and frankly too many people stood to profit form his success.  Then came the pros; his game didn't translate, and for the first time ever he had to face adversity.  He couldn't deal with the pressure, but he does still have much more $$ from his contract than most people in their 20s will ever have.  So he retreats to what he's learned has brought him pleasure - Gambling, drinking, drugs and girls.  The fame is almost gone, and soon the money will be, too.  You can only hope someone like that comes to their senses, but all to often it takes tragedy to do it.  If he has good people in his life, I think the "hangers-on" and the people exploiting him for their on gain far outnumber them - but they're the ones giving him the attention he craves.

I agree, it's sad. I'm not one that enjoys watching train wrecks for my own pleasure.  Who knows what it will take -- just like any addict, he's not going to listen to just anyone that steps in and tells him to change.  Not until he decides to do it on his own.  Hopefully it doesn't kill him first. Sadly, TMZ will be there to document every minute as he lives out the tragedy. 

[delcecchi]

Schadenfreude

[nofishfisherman]

Sounds like he's probably done with the Browns.  I have a feeling that was probably his plan and the reason he bailed.  He knew if he did one more thing he'd be let go.  Once they let him go he can sign with anyone he wants, or at least anyone who is dumb enough to take him (Jerry Jones in Dallas). 

I think he's got the talent to play the game at the NFL level but his head is so screwed up we may never find out.  I'm not sure if he needs a mentor or a very large kick in the backside, maybe both.  I think people have tried to help him but you can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped.  Its likely he doesn't think he has a problem. 

Even if he does get his head right he's also got a long ways to go before he's a capable NFL QB.  Right now he's relying on his ability to run the ball and that is not a sustainable way to play the QB position, just ask RG3.  Manziel is only 6' and 200 lbs, with that size he doesn't have the body to take many hits from 250 lb linebackers.  He needs to learn to stay in the pocket and use his scrambling ability as a means for avoiding hits and extending plays versus using it as plan B once his first receiver isn't open. If he can learn to do that then he may have a career, but that's only if he can get his head out of his backside.