Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel denied that partying had anything to do with being sent home early last weekend from the Manning Passing Academy. He spoke with reporters on Wednesday during the SEC Media Days and told his side of the story, ESPN reports.
Manziel tackled first his dismissal from the Manning Passing Academy. Despite reports suggesting he was sent home early over the weekend for being hung over, Manziel insisted it had nothing to do with alcohol.
"There's a lot of rumors out there, a lot of talk," Manziel told ESPN reporters. "I've been very eager to get a chance to share my side of the story. I missed a meeting. It wasn't anything due to the night prior. ... It was simply my phone died, I overslept, I woke up the next morning whenever I did, went and talked to them and it was kind of a mutual decision to get home and get some time to relax."
He also addressed a conversation he had with his coach, Kevin Sumlin.
"I told him I felt like the deal really got blown out of proportion, and I'm sorry for that, for the way it was spun and the way it was taken out of context," Manziel said. "I never meant to make A&M look bad, or especially him. Me and Coach Sumlin have such a special relationship and I never would have wanted to upset him."
Although Manziel took responsibility for his actions, he did admit that being a Heisman winner holds him to different standards than most 20 year old college students.
"I feel like I am on a little bit higher pedestal than most people in college football," he said. "But at the same time, I'm still 20 years old, I'm still a sophomore in college, I'm still going to do things that everyone in college does and continue to live my life. Hopefully people don't hold me to a higher standard than that."
