A lot is expected of you when you are a first-round draft pick in the NFL. The team that’s chosen you is investing a lot in your future, and with that comes a lot of pressure to succeed. The Cleveland Browns invested a first round choice in Johnny Manziel to be their quarterback of the future but I don’t think it’s out of the question to question whether Johnny Football is ready for the NFL yet or not.
He spent the early days following his draft by partying it up several times in Vegas, a mild transgression compared to the offseason of Ray Rice. While Manziel claims to have been studying in between parties, you’d have to think he’d be wanting to prove his doubters wrong and grab the starting job for week one against the hated Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ah yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The same team Manziel mentioned last week he wasn’t sure he was prepared to face. The coaches obviously felt the same as they named Brian Hoyer the starter to open the season. In the NFL your words are often used against you and no player should ever express the fact they don’t feel prepared. That’s a cardinal sin in the eyes of the coaching staff whose job it is to prepare you for battle.
Flash forward to Monday night’s preseason game against the Washington Redskins in which Manziel was caught on camera making a gesture with his middle finger towards the Redskins bench. Ryan Clark of the Redskins was on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike and basically said the Redskins were calling out Manziel and saying “This isn’t college anymore, these people are faster than you.” Not exactly the best insult in the world, but it sure got under Manziel’s skin which makes you wonder what he’ll do if the other player’s start dropping mama jokes on him.
Players will use anything they can to gain an edge and if Manziel’s early lack of composure is any sign, they are on the right track against Johnny Football. I hate to break it to you Johnny but the Redskins were giving you a harsh dose of reality. Whatever you accomplished in college is just a distant memory now. This is the NFL where the linebackers are just as fast as you. You can’t rely on athletic talent alone anymore. It’s going to take every inch of preparation and heart you possess if you want to succeed in this league.
I can admire when a quarterback has bravado and a lot of self confidence, but when they fail to back it up on the field or through their actions, they are made to look foolish. You have to wonder if Manziel is going to make the Browns look foolish for picking him.
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