It seemed like such a perfect NFL marriage at first - Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, selected in the first round by the Cleveland Browns, would be the franchise signal-caller the organization had searched high and low for, year after moribund year.
But, in the wake of an abysmal rookie season that saw him manage only six immensely ineffective quarters and based on recent rumors, Manziel may not have even been viewed as a viable NFL quarterback by many, especially former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, within the Browns organization.
"Sources, though, said Shanahan liked Jimmy Garoppolo, now with New England, or Tom Savage, now with Houston. Debate existed among assistant coaches about Manziel's draft ratings, with some not giving him a first-round grade," write Jeremy Fowler and Pat McManamon of ESPN.
Garoppolo went late in the second round to the New England Patriots and Savage went in the fourth to the Houston Texans and Browns GM Ray Farmer made Manziel the Browns second first-round selection.
Shanahan and the team parted ways after the season amidst rumors that he felt "pressured" to play Manziel despite his view that the young quarterback wasn't ready - Manziel came from college with a bundle of baggage pertaining to his lax attitude and propensity for staying out all night and drinking.
"During the draft process, not one person interviewed by the team said he was going to grow up," said one source directly involved in the drafting of Manziel, according to ESPN. "You can't blame Johnny. This is who he is. The team knew that."
He was also pegged as a player who considered himself a "gamer" - he would show up on Saturdays and ball out in college, without putting in much, if any, effort or preparation during the week.
"The way we talked about him in meetings, the kid never put in the time he needed to -- studying film, organizing workouts, 7-on-7 workouts -- he didn't do it," said one NFC scout with a Southeastern Conference focus, according to ESPN. "His thing would be he's going to show up on Saturdays, 'I'm a gamer.' He'd show up for practices and games but that's about it. Johnny thought he was an NFL superstar before he came [into the league]."
Manziel seems to have brought those very issues, and perhaps more, with him to the NFL.
The Browns - whether many besides Farmer and perhaps owner Jimmy Haslam viewed Manziel as a first-round talent or not - are now stuck with him.
Hopefully for the Cleveland faithful, Manziel will get the message and start conducting himself like a real NFL quarterback next season.
