One of the NFL's poster children for undersized quarterbacks said Tuesday he isn't convinced that Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel will be able to handle the ups and downs of a season if he is forced into action this season.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees told the NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" that Manziel reminds him of former USC running back Reggie Bush's indoctrination into the NFL as the No. 2 pick in the 2006 draft.

And though Manziel has exhibited a brashness that could be useful in the NFL, it could also backfire if faced with continuous adversity through an entire season.

"He seems like an ultra-confident person, one who is kind of ready for that type of spotlight, that type of attention," the 6-foot, 209-pound Brees said. "It's kind of been that way for the last two years with him. It's not anything he's not used to. I think the big thing is, hey, if you have your struggles like everybody does, how are you able to handle that?"

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Brees got a front-row seat to Bush's rookie season as the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner entered the league with almost unrealistic expectations, and struggled his rookie season, NFL.com reported.

"It's kind of hard for a player in that situation because you're coming off of that success from college and all of the sudden you're thrown into the NFL in the spotlight," Brees said. "We've certainly seen guys get thrown into the fire and (they're) not quite ready. Listen, it takes a mentally tough person to kind of work through those struggles because you're going to have struggles. Everybody does at some point."

Brees, who sat out his rookie season as a backup to yet another diminutive quarterback, Doug Flutie, is resigned to the fact that the 6-foot, 210-pound Manziel likely will start, even though sitting for a year could be the best thing for him.

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