Johnny Manziel Getting Tired Of Endless Criticism, But Won’t Stop Partying
Johnny Manziel hasn’t even played a down in the NFL, but he’s already one of the most controversial players in a generation.
The former Texas A&M quarterback said he’s already growing tired of the endless criticism — of his brash style, his small stature, and his big parties.
Manziel said he wants it all to stop.
“I want to wake up with a week and not have my name going through something,” he said Friday. “And I’m working on getting better at that, but if I want to go back home and spend time with my friends or go out and enjoy my weekends, I absolutely have the right to do that.”
But it seems unlikely that the media firestorm surrounding Manziel will slow anytime soon. The quarterback has been seen partying hard on weekends, with social media pictures showing him holding a stack of money like a phone and spraying champagne from an inflatable swan.
John Manziel said none of that has any bearing on his on-field play.
“Nothing that I’m doing on the weekends is affecting my job,” he said. “Nothing that I’m doing on the weekends is hopefully hurting any of my teammates in the locker room.”
But others are taking notice. Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Emmett Smith have both spoken out, warning that his fast lifestyle will lead to a short career.
“First, let’s recognize [that] Johnny is young. I was young and dumb myself at one point in time,” Smith said. “But maturity itself, and maturing as a professional athlete, is something that is required of every pro football player. I think right now Johnny Manziel is going to get a glimpse of what negative press can do for you. A lot of people think negative press is good press, or any press is good press. It’s not.”
But the advice might fall on deaf ears. Manziel said that he doesn’t plan on letting anyone tell him how to act.
“I’m not going to change who I am for anybody,” he said. “I’m growing up and continuing to learn from my mistakes and trying not to make the same ones over and over again. Am I going to live in a shell? Or am I just going to hide from everybody and not do anything? I don’t think that’s the way I should live my life. And I’m not going to do it.
Johnny Manziel said he has only one thing in mind — becoming the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
