Johnny Manziel to the Cowboys rumors couldn’t seem further from reality after his father’s recent comments to ESPN. Paul Manziel, Johnny Football’s father, said he fears his son won’t see his next birthday unless he gets help for his addiction, to The Dallas Morning News.

"I truly believe if they can't get him help, he won't live to see his 24th birthday," Paul Manziel said. Once a Heisman Trophy winning star athlete, Johnny Manziel’s career has careened off any sort of path. He is likely to be cut by the Browns next month, just two seasons after being taken in the first round. LeBron James’ agency has cut ties, and now his own agent has done the same.

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On top of it all, he is in potential legal trouble because his ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, accused him of hitting her several times and threatening to kill them both. There’s a former NFL quarterback who serves as a striking comparison to Manziel’s career arc – former No. 2 overall pick Ryan Leaf.

The Chargers selected Leaf one pick after the Colts drafted Peyton Manning, and there was legitimate debate about which quarterback would go first. Leaf was out of the NFL by 2002, and has been to jail twice after becoming addicted to Vicodin.

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"It's like a mirror. It really is," Leaf said. "I listen to and I hear stuff that's being said and what's going on, and it's like a mirror to me. I can relate to certain things. I called my old agent, Dave Dunn, and I got his agent's contact info and I reached out.”

Leaf talked about how being such a high-profile athlete can fuel a sense of invincibility. Manziel appears to be going through that, denying two attempts by his family and inner circle to get him back into rehab.

“I'm completely stable. I'm safe and secure,” Manziel told TMZ. He hardly appears to live up to either adjective.

"You don't want to be vulnerable because you're this big, strong football player, and help means weak. And it doesn't. Asking for help might be the strongest thing you will ever do. So it's hard because it was so fun to watch him. He was a great college quarterback, and he's very capable and people want to cheer for him,” Leaf said.

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