Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel was a "100 percent joke" in his rookie season, according to an unnamed Browns player summing up his teammates' feelings and quoted in an
ESPN report on the former Heisman Trophy winner's first year in the NFL.
The brash quarterback out of Texas A&M, known as much for his partying lifestyle as his flamboyant play on the football field, is supposed to be Browns' answer for their perpetual problem position, but he struggled when he got his chance to start at the end of the season.
The ESPN.com report by Jeremy Fowler and Pat McManamon, quoted Browns sources as saying that players tired of Manziel's apparent lack of work ethic and will to improve as a football player.
"Those who spoke talked of a yearlong pattern that showed a lack of commitment and preparation, a failure to be ready when given a chance in his first start against Cincinnati and a continued commitment to nightlife, which affected his preparation and work while in the team facility," the ESPN report stated. "As one player put it, Manziel throughout the entire 2014 season was a '100 percent joke.'"
The breaking point came on Dec. 27 when Manziel missed treatment for a hamstring injury that Saturday morning because he was reportedly out partying Friday into the early hours of the next morning,
according to TMZ.com.
The incident got Manziel fined by the Browns and wide receiver teammate Josh Gordon suspended for the regular season final game for missing Saturday's walk-through practice,
according to NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk.
"The official word was that Manziel was 'late,' but players said they didn't see Manziel until the Browns' chartered airplane prepared to take off in the afternoon (to Baltimore), that he was not present all morning," the ESPN report stated. "The team fined Manziel for missing treatment on his injured hamstring, then had him sit in the locker room during the season finale in Baltimore."
"Johnny's his own worst enemy," one source told ESPN.
Several players did speak up on the rookie's behalf in the report.
"He's competitive," Browns tight end Jordan Cameron told ESPN. "So I'm hoping that competitive nature will get him past all the other stuff. Hopefully he does, and hopefully he figures it out."
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