Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel inspires impassioned reactions both positive and negative. Some believe he is immature while others believe he's doing all the right things to get his NFL career back on track. On Monday, former teammate Jordan Cameron firmly planted himself in the latter group.
"I think the fact that he admitted himself into somewhere to help him out is huge. I think it's a very mature step in the process of him getting back to things," Cameron, who is now with the Miami Dolphins, told ESPN. "I hope for the best for him. I think he's a great guy. He gets a bad rap in the media.
"He's a young kid, and I think that he's going to mature and try to make it [in the NFL]. I think he's on the right path for that."
Cameron was the starting tight end for the Browns during Manziel's rocky rookie season. The young QB appeared in just five games and was 0-2 as a starter while he was consistently dogged by off-field issues. ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi reported last week that it appeared as if the Browns were "moving on" from Manziel in OTAs.
ESPN.com's Pat McManamon and Jeremy Fowler wrote back in January that Manziel had "a yearlong pattern that showed a lack of commitment and preparation...and a continued commitment to nightlife." Manziel entered himself into rehab shortly after.
But Cameron is hopeful about Manziel's chances to make it in the NFL, especially now that he believes his personal life is under control.
"He's an athletic kid. He can do everything on the football field," Cameron said. "I don't know anything about quarterback, but I know he's very athletic. You've seen that in his college career and some of the things he did last year."
Will Johnny Football turn it around? At the moment, veteran Josh McCown stands in his way so we'll have to see the quarterback competition play out in training camp and the preseason.
