November 26, 2015, Queens, NY He used to be called Johnny “Football” but nowadays you can call him Johnny “Party.” Cleveland Browns embattled quarterback Johnny Manziel has been demoted (again) from starting QB. When he entered the league last year, the question was “Will he STAY in the NFL?” Then, the question became “Will he START in the NFL?” Now the question is “Will he STAY in the NFL?” His future has come down to this.
He was recently given the starting position again, and what does he do? It’s not like an almost 23-year old doesn’t have the right to party (he’ll be 23 on Dec. 6), but his track record is such that parties, booze and bars are his kryptonite.
Earlier this year, he had to go to rehab for an alcohol or substance “challenge.” He appeared to be repentant, and then a few weeks ago there was an incident with his girlfriend while he was driving on the road, after admittedly he had been drinking. Of course, all was forgiven, and he was given the starting nod.
Manziel was born with the stereotypical “silver spoon” and with all the excesses came the enabling. He is still being enabled. Stars are enabled. Starters are enabled. But not unproven quarterbacks who have watched more games from the sideline than participated in games.
Manziel had the potential to be one of the highest paid endorsers in all of sports. He was featured in a Snickers commercial. Madison Avenue wanted him to star. He could have kept the “party hardy” “be a rebel” reputation. Advertisers like Axe, or Old Spice (which is trying to skew younger and hipper), or Canon (with their “be a rebel” campaign), or 7up (are you kidding? All he had to do was snap his fingers), or Kia, or ….
Perfect example: The Surface Pro 4 tablet has a commercial that begins: “To do great things, sometimes you got to break the rules.” Manziel has lived by this code literally when he could have lived by this code symbolically–and benefited monetarily.
Manziel’s image could have been “bad boy” or “living on the edge” but his lifestyle should have been “Monk.” Manziel is more than some over-hyped player with very limited talent. He can actually play and has shown some glimpses. If he could get two drama-free years under his belt, he could be a top-ten QB in the league.
At a recent press conference, a somber coach Mike Pettine said, “Sometimes you got to take a step back to take a few forward. We told him yesterday this isn’t a deadend. This is a hurdle, an obstacle. So part of success in athletics is dealing in adversity. This will be an example of it.” Pettine is no super fan of Manziel. It has been rumored that Manziel was forced upon him by Browns’ ownership and upper management.
Manziel continues to supply Pettine with the ammunition that he was right all along, and they (ownership and management) were wrong. Manziel is also causing the same ripples in teams that may consider him. Head coaches probably don’t want any part of the drama that comes with Manziel while owners and team executives see the economic and financial advantages he can bring to an organization.
Forty years ago, a funk and R&B group called the Fatback Band put out an album entitled Raising Hell (which is arguably the most progressive album in that genre ever made). One of the songs on the album was “Party Time.” In the song, the chant was “Party Time is any time and any time is party time.” That certainly doesn’t apply to Johnny Manziel. (See the YouTube clip below. Listen and enjoy.)
Professor Clifford Benton can be reached at @cliffordbenton.