It's been a minute since we heard, well, just about anything regarding embattled Browns quarterback and former franchise signal-caller of the present and the future in Cleveland, Johnny Manziel. And that's an especially good thing for Manziel considering the last handful of times his name had popped up in the news cycle it involved his off-field exploits and potentially deteriorating mental health. Really, it's been quite some time since there's been any talk at all of Manziel, let alone his football prowess or NFL future.
And yet, that's likely to become the hottest topic of conversation. Why?
Because the Browns made this day, March 11, 2015, a day that will forever live in infamy, the day they finally cut ties with Johnny Football.
Friday morning wasn't the first time we'd heard that a particular day may be D-Day for Manziel's Browns tenure. In early February, new Browns director of football operations Sashi Brown announced, via a strongly-worded statement condemning Manziel's off-field transgressions, that the franchise would wait until March 9 to release the talented, if utterly misguided Manziel. There were cap concerns to navigate, which would keep the former Mr. Football in Cleveland until the new league year began.
But then Wednesday came and went and Manziel remained.
It turns out, Brown and the Browns had not yet given up hope of finding a trade partner. Surely, a former first-round pick who once starred at Texas A&M and, despite issues ranging from a propensity for partying and drinking to a lack of playbook knowledge and/or preparation, looked relatively good during stints as the Cleveland starter in 2015, would warrant at least some kind of draft compensation.
But that doesn't seem to be the case.
And now, after more media reports concerned with his bye-week whereabout than highlights reel plays, after just 147 completions, 1,675 yards, 7 touchdowns and a whole boatload of trouble, Manziel is finally be on his way out the door in Cleveland.
