How BAD Was Johnny Manziel Actually?

A look at the career of one of the NFL's biggest all-time busts.

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How Bad Was Johnny Manziel Actually?

[nonstop]

What bust should we make a video on next?

[toddtaylor]

Main thing wrong with Manziel is he NEVER really wanted to be an NFL player ... he wanted to live the perpetual frat bro life though.

[davidlinscheid]

Back in the 1970's my high school baseball coach had a favorite saying: "A million dollar arm and a ten cent head." I reckon that transfers to football.

[SimpleSock]

Manziel just cared more about being famous than being good at football. It's a shame he didn't have anyone in his life to knock some sense into him, he had a lot of potential.

[avecashley]

One of my favorite stories surrounding the Manziel draft is Stephen Jones having to hold his 70 year old father, Jerry Jones, against a wall until their first round pick was submitted, because Jerry was determined to intervene and pick Manziel. They picked 8-time pro bowl player Zack Martin instead, who is probably their best first round pick in the last two decades.

[talltayls]

Man, hearing that comment he made about Joe Thomas and how he was a major waste of 2 entire seasons for a career long Pro Bowler, and how he regrets going to Cleveland and not getting closer to those guys, makes me actually kinda feel for the guy. Thats a very mature thing to say, clearly thinking about other people and how he affected the whole franchise.
I hope you’re winning in your next chapter in life, Johnny

[shipmate]

Manziel and Leaf are the reason why teams evaluate mental stability for draftees.

[senorfish]

Still have his browns jersey im saving so I can sell it when it's value reaches $2.75

[matthewconway]

The moment when Cleveland drafted him, when he showed the money signs walking towards the commissioner, real browns fans knew that the Gm, and owner wasted a pick.

[Bigfishfun]

Seeing Johnny, Leaf, JaMarcus, Dupree, Boz, etc. makes you appreciate just how hard it really is to find success in the NFL - no matter your level of college success. The Bradys, Rices, and Mannings of the world have something that you obviously can't coach.

[vapegodgaming]

I grew up in the same town as Johnny, my brother played with him also its T-I-V-Y. We all loved him and rooted for him when we learned of him going to A&M but then what happened to him broke our town heart. He's pretty much never coming back anytime soon

[Chase]

Appreciate what he did for A&M as an Aggie fan but he didn’t have what took for the NFL. You gotta have your mind right.

[tacoenvy]

Dude was on top of the world and given so many opportunities and chances others would kill for and he instead acted like a jackass and threw it all away. Massive waste of talent.

[pete]

Was a shame. I blame his attitude on his rich upbringing. He always knew whenever he screwed up, he’d still have an extremely rich family to depend on. Most NFL players have very little to fall back on, so slacking off is just not an option

[ronaldbalcius]

When he turns 40-years old and looks back, prioritizing partying over this opportunity will hit him really hard. We all play a little of the "woulda-coulda-shoulda" game, but not at this level. That will be a tough time period for him.

[joshuapatrick]

Dude is the great what if of the 2010’s for football. Could have paved the way for guys who weren’t 6’2 plus to play the position. Instead he’s the cautionary tale of what happens when you buy into your own hype..

[raycuda]

Jerry Jones had to be physically restrained from drafting Johnny Manziel.

[dudedurham]

Drafting Manziel was like hiring Van Wilder to guard your brewery at night.

[sniperkennedy]

Man this dude was like the biggest football celebrity of the early 2010s. Such a fall from grace

[alfonsomunoz]

I saw him play as a freshman at Kyle Field. It was against a small school, like South Carolina State or something, but could tell right away he was something special. Saw him play a second time as a freshman then again as a junior. It was exciting. Mike Evans bailed him out of a lot of bad throws.