It seems to just get worse and worse for Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. Just one day after he allegedly burst the eardrum of his ex-girlfriend when her attorney claims he struck her, it appears the Browns themselves might be a big part of Manziel's problems. According to the NFL Network's Michael Silver, Manziel showed up at practice on Dec. 30 intoxicated. Instead of dealing with the obvious and apparent issue, the Browns lied for Manziel and placed him on the concussion protocol for the Browns' regular-season finale versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I was with a Browns player yesterday. Johnny Manziel, going in to what would have been a start late in the season, showed up drunk at practice on a Wednesday," NFL Network's Michael Silver reported. "The Browns lied and said he was in the concussion protocol. Let me say that again: The Browns lied. To try to protect and, I would argue, enable this irresponsible and very troubled young man."
There are obviously multiple problems with this, if it is indeed true. The fact that the Browns just simply covered up Manziel in order to keep their name, as well as Manziel's, out of the headlines for a moment, they avoided helping the second-year quarterback who has an apparent, and real problem. The Browns have since all but released Manziel with their statement put out last week, claiming that Manziel hasn't lived up to the expectations that the franchise has put on him as their quarterback, but can't Manziel say the same about the Browns? As an organization, they lied for him in an effort to protect themselves, but at the same time completely avoided the issue at hand, and failed to provide Manziel with the support and help you're expected to receive when from a team you're working for.
All rants aside, Manziel is clearly in a lot of trouble both legally and personally. Manziel's father said last week that if his son keeps going along with path he is headed down, he won't make it to his 24th birthday. There is also the open criminal investigation he has coming from the Dallas Police Department for the night he allegedly hit his ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley.
[H/T: New York Daily News]
