Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton says former Texas A&M quarterback and aspiring top NFL draft choice Johnny Manziel is the player that most resembles his scrambling style of football during his career with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings.
Too bad Manziel is a rat, Tarkenton says.
USA TODAY Sports reported that the 74-year-old Tarkenton has no reservations about Manziel's ability to perform in the NFL because of his size.
The red flag in Tarkenton's mind about Johnny Football is his mind.
"The things that went on last year with him leaving the Manning camp and other activities, I just want to understand that a little better. Everything I've seen of the kid, I love. ...
"But you've got to make sure. Because there's never been a great quarterback I know of who was a rodent."
Tarkenton referred to the incident involving Manziel at the Manning Passing Academy last summer when he left early after it was reported that he overslept and missed a morning meeting.
Tarkenton was a 6-foot, 190-pound scrambling quarterback who played 18 seasons. He made escaping a pass rush into an art form since coming into the league in 1961. And more than 50 years later, he says he's finally found his physical ability reincarnated in Manziel.
"Nobody really played like I played. This kid plays like I did more than anybody else," Tarkenton told USA TODAY Sports. "He's the closest thing I've seen to myself. Russell Wilson has some of it. But Manziel has those similarities even more so than Russell.
"Manziel is a quarterback savant."
In this case, it isn't sure whether "savant" is a compliment.
Tarkenton also referred to his social media controversies as question marks that have to be answered before the draft starts on May 8.
"I'd have to spend some time with him," Tarkenton said. "What I've seen him do on the field, he has all the franchise qualities. You look at your great players; they have to be leaders in the clubhouse and off the field. They don't have to be churchgoers. But they have to have character."
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