The Cleveland Browns remain on the hunt for a franchise quarterback. The list of men who have been christened as the franchise signal-caller in Cleveland only to not work out is a long one. Perhaps the most public failure is Johnny Manziel 's.
Manziel was a superstar at Texas A&M. His brash and confident antics rubbed a ton of people the wrong way. His unabashed partying also raised concerns within NFL front offices. However, these aspects of his personality also made him a fan favorite.
The Browns made him a first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He went on to play just 14 games in the NFL before flaming out following his sophomore season. In a recent interview, Manziel reflected on his failed career in the NFL.
Manziel appeared on the "Chasing No. 1" podcast, hosted by Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase. During this episode, Manziel was asked about his time in the NFL. The former Browns quarterback admitted that his shortcomings were no one's fault but his own.
"You know, I don't have anybody else to blame but myself for how my NFL career went for a little bit," he told Chase on the "Chasing No. 1" podcast.
Manziel also spoke about his approach to the NFL when he first joined. He admitted he didn't really care much about being in the NFL. He simply enjoyed life as a backup quarterback at the time.
"God, I really could not have cared less when I got to the NFL in my first year," Manziel said.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN's Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
He added, "Like, I was super complacent with learning and just, like, being in the backup role. We were winning games, and I was like, 'Man, this is awesome.' And I remember back then, two times throughout my first year, rookie year in the NFL, I snuck out twice whenever we were on the road games. That's kind of how I was."
Manziel was cut by the Browns following the 2015 NFL season after a domestic abuse allegation became public. In December 2016, Manziel reached a conditional dismissal agreement with prosecutors that required him to complete anger management, attend a domestic-violence impact panel, and participate in a substance-abuse program.
SET YOUR LINEUPS: PFN's Free Fantasy Start/Sit Optimizer
In 2018, his professional football career continued. He signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League following a lengthy negotiation. He spent the first part of the 2018 season with Hamilton but did not take a regular-season snap before being traded to the Montreal Alouettes.
In 2019, Manziel signed a player contract with the Alliance of American Football and was claimed off waivers by the Memphis Express. The former Browns quarterback would attempt just eight passes with Memphis, though. The Alliance of American Football folded during its first season of play.
Manziel entered the NFL Draft with extremely high potential. Unfortunately, he was not able to realize that potential. His career withered away before it ever truly began, in a way.
The former Heisman Trophy winner is taking accountability for his part in this, though. He understands that his approach to the NFL was not the right attitude. Still, it's certainly worth wondering what could have been had Manziel been a star in the NFL, much like he was at Texas A&M.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
