Opinion: ‘Hard Knocks’ last thing Browns, Johnny Manziel need

Ian Altenau
Thu, 26 Mar 2015 04:21:57 +0000
Football, Sports, Cleveland Browns, Hard Knocks, Johnny Football, Johnny Manziel

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel runs against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 21 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Credit: Courtesy of TNS

The last thing Johnny Manziel needs right now is more attention.

NFL Films has reportedly — tentatively — named the Cleveland Browns to be featured for its HBO reality series “Hard Knocks.” While coach Mike Pettine has repeatedly stated that he has no interest in participating, the Browns could be forced to by the league.

Nothing could be worse for Johnny Football. Keep the cameras far away from him.

Manziel shined in the spotlight while at Texas A&M, becoming one of the most talked about pro prospects in years. Despite his success in college, his talents haven’t quite translated to the NFL.

Those sneaky concerns about arm strength and field vision turned out to be accurate, but the Browns have coaches to work on those problems.

The off-the-field issues are much harder to diagnose and treat.

Who can forget Manziel’s memorable bird, flipped in a meaningless preseason loss to the Washington Redskins? Or the ill-timed party before the Baltimore Ravens game?

These, and many other incidents, have become a major distraction.

If the Browns are going to break out of recent slump, they need as little distraction as possible. “Hard Knocks” is the last thing the Browns and Manziel need right now.

With Manziel reportedly scheduled to be released from rehab for alcohol dependency in April, he needs to be eased into the daily grind slowly. Getting into a routine isn’t an overnight occurrence.

Putting Manziel back into the spotlight is like locking a bull in a china shop. He could surprise us and rise to the occasion, but more likely he will collapse under the weight of his own stardom.

So, for all of us who still believe that Johnny Manziel can be a successful NFL quarterback: NFL Films, please go away.