Johnny Manziel Is Living With His High School Coach, Eager For A Do-Over In The NFL

Call him Johnny Football or Johnny Heisman, but make no mistake, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has had a rough go of it ever since he declared for the NFL draft after his sophomore season at Texas A&M.

Manziel has lived fast and loose in his young 22 years, and has paid a steep price because of it. Going from king of campus one year to entering rehab not long after has to be doing major damage to his psyche. Manziel has enraged the Browns’ fanbase with both his play on-the-field and the way he carries himself off it, and will most certainly face an uphill battle when it comes to finding playing time next season.

Before his rookie campaign even began in 2014, Johnny was fined $12,000 by the NFL for flipping the middle finger to a fan, and from that time forward, it seems as though Manziel just didn’t have NFL life figured out.

After being announced as the back-up QB, Manziel eventually got his chance to start for Cleveland, though an injury kept him from finishing out the year as top dog. His stats for the season were incredibly unattractive, completing just 18 of 35 passes for a total of 176 yards and two interceptions. The lone touchdown Johnny scored came on one of his nine total rushes for 29 yards.

When his fledgling season came to a close, the known-partier admitted himself into a rehabilitation clinic for alcohol addiction. Nearly four months later, Manziel emerged from the rehab center eager for a fresh start, and to show the nation why he is considered one of the greatest college football players of all-time.

Now, Johnny is said to be living with his former high school coach in order to right the ship and get back to his roots, according to Browns cornerback and good friend, Joe Haden.

Haden said, “He’s doing all the right steps.”

First Take’s Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless of ESPN sat down with Haden as the trio discussed all things Johnny.

“Haden didn’t specify the name of the coach, but an athletic department official from Kerrville Tivy High School confirmed that it is Julius Scott, Kerrville’s former offensive coordinator and a major influence on Manziel.”

“The Houston Chronicle said that Scott was the disciplinarian for Manziel and his high school team. Manziel told the Chronicle that Scott ‘had the single biggest impact on my development as a player.’ Manziel added he didn’t get emotional after winning the Heisman Trophy as a freshman until he saw Scott.”

Although he is taking “all the right steps” to better himself, just the other week it was noted by the Inquisitr that Manziel threw a water bottle at a heckler at a golf tournament.

One step at a time, apparently.

On a lighter note, Manziel competed in teammate Haden’s celebrity softball game this past weekend and ended up winning the home run derby. Johnny was actually selected by the San Diego Padres in the 28th round of the MLB Draft in 2014.

In 2012, Manziel became the first freshman player in college football history to take home the prestigious Heisman Trophy, making him (in essence) the MVP of the season. Not since Florida Gators QB Tim Tebow has there been a more exciting college athlete to watch take the field.

If No. 2 can stay healthy, keep his mind right, and channel some of his former collegiate-self onto the NFL gridiron, there should be no reason to assume Johnny Manziel won’t eventually show us what he’s really made of.

[Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images]