Johnny Manziel is now out of the NFL -- some say way out -- but he wants to keep untouched his nickname “Johnny Football” coined in college and is seeking to continue trademark protection for it.
A lawyer representing Manziel and his company filed paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Friday, just a day before the trademark “Johnny Football” was set to expire, ESPN reported.
Manziel applied for the trademark back in 2013, right after he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. The quarterback had his representatives give the players’ association permission to license the nickname in exchange for lucrative royalties, said Fox Sports.
Manziel made an autograph deal with Panini Authentic, at one point, that allowed him to make more money by agreeing to write “Johnny Football” along with his autograph, ESPN noted.
The former Texas A&M star, whom the Browns drafted with a first round pick in 2014, was cut by the team in the off season after his involvement in several off-the-field incidents (see related stories below), and he remains on the outside looking in today.
In June, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler spoke to sources close to Manziel and NFL insiders, who said the 23-year-old would likely return to the NFL no sooner than 2017, if even that’s in the cards for the college football 2012 Heisman Trophy winner.
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