Written by at Pat McManamon at ESPN.com
Johnny Manziel is no longer a member of the Cleveland Browns.
In a move that was no surprise, the team announced Friday that Manziel had been released.
Manziel was the 22nd overall selection by the Browns in 2014, their second of two first-round draft picks that year. But his two seasons in Cleveland were marred by off-field struggles and limited on-field success.
His selection in the draft was greeted with excitement and acclaim in Cleveland. Fans have treated his departure the opposite way, with some bars offering a “Say Bye to Johnny” event.
Manziel can choose where he wants to play next but has hurdles to clear regarding his behavior. His off-field issues make his immediate future a question mark. Manziel spent 10 weeks in rehab following his rookie season and is the subject of a grand jury investigation in Dallas into whether he assaulted his former girlfriend. The NFL is investigating whether Manziel violated the personal conduct policy in that incident.
Since he spent the weekend of the Browns’ season finale in Las Vegas, Manziel has made regular appearances on social media from locales that include Miami, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Manziel’s partying and social media appearances started the night the Browns drafted him, with a celebration in New York City that included Drake and magnums of champagne. The lifestyle continued through his rookie season, when he struggled on the field and missed a Week 17 walk-through because he was out late the night before.
Manziel went to rehab from January through April last year and returned promising to tamp down the hype and avoid social media situations.
He led the Browns to a win over the Tennessee Titans in the second game of the 2015 season but returned to the backup role when Josh McCown was cleared from a concussion.
To continue reading this article, click here.
