The Browns benched Johnny Manziel before Monday night’s game vs. the Ravens because video surfaced of Manziel partying during Cleveland’s bye week, which he then lied about to the team. Head coach Mike Pettine demoted him all the way to third-string, behind Josh McCown and Austin Davis.
Pettine’s resolve was tested during the Ravens game. McCown injured his collarbone while the game was very winnable, and Pettine stuck to his guns, trotting out Davis while Manziel sat. Browns fans booed the decision and chanted “Johnny, Johnny” but for once, Pettine handled his mercurial QB situation properly.
Johnny Football Is Too Valuable To Cut
Players should be allowed to have a good time on their bye week, but Manziel isn’t entitled to the same types of fun other players are. Aside from the microscope he’s under, Manziel spent much of his offseason in rehab, presumably for alcohol-related issues. He knows he can not be drinking, and it’s his second incident involving alcohol in the last few weeks. The first involved him being pulled over for driving recklessly, and allegations that he’d hit his girlfriend were thrown about. Drinking just months after leaving rehab, and being linked to domestic violence in the current NFL landscape are huge no-nos.
But that isn’t the only reason Pettine was right to leave Manziel sitting. On top of his behavior problems, which would only be enabled by Pettine instantly flip-flopping on his decision to make him third string, Manziel hasn’t played well enough to earn that kind of leeway. Early in the season it made sense for Pettine to see what he had in Johnny Football, but he hasn’t played well enough in his chances to justify sending a message of lawlessness to the rest of the team.
Manziel's Drinking Excuse May Be Worse Than The Act Itself
Manziel has five touchdowns and four picks in his career, a completion percentage of 57.7, and six career fumbles. It is possible that Manziel is talented enough to be a franchise quarterback, but he hasn’t shown any inkling that he’s close. If he refuses to act the part, it’s not worth it for the Browns to stick with him.
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