A media report has "confirmed" what could be the worst-kept secret in the world: Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will declare early eligibility for the 2014 NFL draft.
But in a far lesser-known secret, the firing of Cleveland Browns coach Rob Chudzinski may be tied to Manziel's declaration.
Soon after the NFL.com's Gil Brandt tweeted that multiple sources told him Manziel and Aggies wide receiver Mike Evans will play their final college football games on New Year's Eve, it quoted Sports Illustrated's Peter King stating that the Browns, who own the No. 4 pick in the 2014 NFL draft are trying to position themselves to acquire Johnny Football.
"... If they kept Chudzinski, they'd be asking him to develop the next quarterback, along with offensive coordinator Norv Turner," King wrote. "What if there was a disconnect between the quarterback the front office wanted (I hear Cleveland really likes Johnny Manziel, who is not the Aikmanish pocket passer more to Turner's liking) and the one the coaches preferred? If they made a clean break now, they wouldn't be delaying what they felt was inevitable."
CBSSports.com's Bruce Feldman tweeted that four NFL teams will be on hand for the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta for the Texas A&M-Duke game:
"NFL teams credentialed for Chick-fil-A Bowl to see Manziel, (Texas A&M offensive lineman) Jake Matthews & Mike Evans & co: #Browns; #Steelers; #Titans & #Rams."
The NFL determines which teams can send scouts to bowl games; each team can petition which bowl games it wants to send scouts to watch.
The Browns might feel the need to win back fans after having to admit to making a mistake in hiring Chudzinski, who went 4-12 in Cleveland this past season.
Judging by the grilling owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner took in addressing the media to explain their decision to terminating Chudzinski, they may want to make a big splash in the draft by selecting the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner.
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