Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel knows he can accomplish his goals in the NFL and still have a fun time. The rookie signal caller defended his trip to Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend, which Browns coach Mike Pettine called a "non-issue."
The media spotlight turned back to Manziel over the weekend when photographs surfaced online of him in Las Vegas over the weekend. Manziel, though, defended his trip and insisted he can still live life to the fullest while putting football first.
"I don't live my life according to you guys or according to what other people think of me," Manziel told reporters after practice on Wednesday, via ESPN. "I'm going to live my life to the fullest and continue to be committed to this game and continue to be committed to what I'm doing here. Trying to earn my place in this locker room, with these coaches and this organization.
"If I want to go out and have some fun and it doesn't hinder what my main goals in life are, then I really don't care what anyone has to say."
Photos showed him at a UFC event, hanging out with New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and posing poolside next to a woman. No incidents were reported, which makes Manziel's incredulity about why the media cares what he did over the weekend sound reasonable.
"The thing I keep wondering about the most is I haven't really done anything at this level," he said. "I haven't done anything to establish myself or create this type of buzz or anything like that. I'm just another rookie."
Pettine indicated Manziel spoke with him about the Vegas trip beforehand. Pettine said he told Manziel to expect questions from the media, but the trip was a "non-issue" with the team, according to ESPN.
