Johnny Manziel,is cut by the Browns
Johnny Manziel,is cut by the Browns
Johnny Manziel,is cut by the Browns
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The deed is done. Johnny Manziel is no longer a member of the Cleveland Browns, who apparently have failed in their attempts to trade the former Heisman Trophy winner and first-round draft pick
The team-issued news release about the roster move contained little more than statistics
Even considering the Browns’ woebegone history, Manziel’s two-year career with the team was a disaster
The move had been expected since early February, when the team announced it would be parting ways with Manziel as soon as it became financially feasible for them to do so when the league’s new calendar began
He still will receive $2.17 million in guaranteed money from the Browns over the next two seasons unless a team picks him up off waivers and assumes responsibility for his contract. The chances of that happening are slim
The Browns took Manziel with the 22nd pick of the 2014 NFL draft, giving up a third-round pick to move up in the order. After a rookie season in which he barely saw the field, Manziel entered a 10-week rehab program after and appeared to say all the right things as he entered his second year, but as it progressed it became clear Manziel wasn’t about to change his ways. In November, the Browns demoted him to third string after video surfaced of him partying
Then Manziel missed a scheduled concussion check-in with team doctors before the team’s regular season finale, reportedly because he was gambling in Las Vegas. In January, he was dropped by his agent
The final straw came on Jan. 30 when Manziel was involved in an incident with former girlfriend Colleen Crowley, who told police in Dallas that Manziel hit her so hard that it ruptured her left eardrum. That incident is currently pending before a grand jury, which will determine whether to charge Manziel with misdemeanor assault