Just two years after being taken in the first round, Johnny Manziel is about to be unemployed. The Browns released a statement regarding Manziel that is carefully worded, but indicates they’ll be moving on from the troubled quarterback when it’s financially advantageous to do so.
Browns will cut Johnny Manziel when new league year begins on March 9 (via @RapSheet): https://t.co/ZvVXrQtfJr pic.twitter.com/3jTTGk9c8O
— NFL (@NFL) February 2, 2016
“We’ve been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field. Johnny’s continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules. We will have no further comment at this time,” the Browns’ statement read. The Browns are being careful, because Manziel has a cap hit of more than $4 million unless he is cut after the NFL’s calendar turns over in March.
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While it’s possible Manziel’s NFL career is over thanks to his inability to stop partying, there are certain situations in which he might thrive. Here are the three best landing spots for Manziel to remain in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Right now, Manziel does not seem like he can handle the pressure of being relied upon. With the Steelers, he certainly wouldn’t be. By joining Pittsburgh, Manziel would have the luxury of sitting behind Ben Roethlisberger, not only one of the NFL’s most successful quarterbacks, but one who got into his fair share of trouble early in his career.
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Roethlisberger has gotten past rape allegations as well as a motorcycle accident, so Manziel could learn or thing or to. He’d also walk into a situation where he’s surrounded by talent, Super Bowl pedigree, and a hard-ass coach in Mike Tomlin. Maybe he never plays a down for the Steelers, but he’d learn a lot.
San Francisco 49ers
Maybe Manziel would clash with Chip Kelly’s prickly style, or maybe he’d thrive with a no-nonsense commander. But judging by how Kelly’s offense operated in Oregon, Manziel’s skill set certainly looks like it would succeed with Kelly running the show.
Many worried that Manziel wouldn’t be as effective as a runner in the NFL as he was in college. They were right to an extent, but Manziel still showed accuracy and playmaking ability outside the pocket when he was on the field.
The 49ers may not be sold on Colin Kaepernick, and they definitely shouldn’t be relying on Blaine Gabbert. Bringing in Manziel will push the entire group to compete, but also ensure he’s no shoo-in for a starting job, or even a backup role.
Dallas Cowboys
Of course, bringing him back to Dallas, where he’ll know all the watering holes and be around party-loving friends, sounds like a horrendous idea. But what about the fact that the Cowboys seem to actually want him, which wasn’t necessarily the case in Cleveland?
Manziel would come home, not be expected to start, and instead he could learn about professionalism from Tony Romo, who took the opposite path to becoming a star. Romo was no Heisman winner, winning a starting job after making it into the NFL as an undrafted free agent. There will be temptation for Manziel, but there also could be an environment in which he’s more cared for and appreciated. Perhaps he responds in kind and grows up.
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