Johnny Manziel, otherwise known as Johnny Football, just had his first start for the Cleveland Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals; it was his initiation as a starting quarterback in pro football and his team lost 30-0.
His coach said he played like a rookie. Well, he is!
I'm not a fan of some of his off-the-field antics, but maybe it was a reaction to the negative press he has been getting in Cleveland. To be fair, when you're a bad boy in the limelight of stardom, you will be highly scrutinized by the press. Enough said about this part of his early career in the league!
It seems, because of how he's being viewed as a little boy with an attitude, that there might be a wish from certain parts of the media to set him up for failure. He has had some playing time getting his feet wet, but as a starter in this past Sunday's game with the Bengals, he tripped over his shoelaces.
How easy it is for those who have never been in a situation like this to be critical of one who has? It's the same old story of proof for the naysayers that he is unworthy of his new role as starting quarterback because of a poor performance.
You've got to give the kid a chance!
One game isn't a career to be fair, and I am obviously working on that. The press has got to stop throwing sand on Johnny Football. Have you ever been there? If you've played sports, generally this is something you can relate to: not performing to your potential and expectations. Flubbing up at curtain call is a learning experience and it has happened to some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL!
I can identify with this whole scenario. When I first played basketball at New Mexico Highlands University, after a successful high school and junior college basketball career, I had to adjust to the higher level of competition. At first it was a struggle, but I eventually proved my worth as a player who could contribute as my first season at Highlands evolved.
When you have a team that is made up of 75 percent former Indiana high school basketball players, where basketball is king, there is a lot of adjustments and plenty to learn. It wasn't easy for me, and I had my Johnny Manziel flops along the way.
NMHU was a Division 1 NAIA school, which was equivalent to Division I-A or Division II competition—a far cry from Mechanicville High School and Adirondack Community College.
Johnny Manziel deserves some patience for his game as starting quarterback from the fans, as well as the local and national press. I feel he will prove why he was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 2011.
To be fair again to Manziel's performance, the Bengals' are a veteran team and are headed toward the playoffs. Those guys from Cincinnati showed Johnny Football no mercy. That’s the NFL. Manziel was manhandled by a super defense. Johnny was hit by a swarm of very aggressive bees and he had multiple stings from a nest of super hungry defensive players. A team like that makes you pay, and so they did. The Browns gained a meager 107 total yards in the game on 38 total plays, which is a new low in the 2014 NFL season.
Sunday's game wasn't all Manziel's fault. The whole team did not perform well. The Brown's defense couldn't get off of the field as the Bengals ate the clock up with their ground game.
Very seldom is it the fault of one person in team sports for the lack of execution of offense in one game. Coach Mike Pettine needs to give his new quarterback more time, and we all know how these NFL coaches are always under the microscope. Not an easy job!
It is so important for these rookies, in professional sports, to be counseled with good advice from professional psychologists to help them prepare for their new life in a whole new world. Maybe for a longer period of time, it's a reality of adjustments.
A thought for the critics: There seems to be a "kiss of death" for former Heisman Trophy winners. Tim Tebow and RG III are part of the quarterback hoax of being able to step into the NFL as a star and/or starting quarterback.
But, this is about a different world and a whole new level of play. The story about my experience at New Mexico is a good example.
Playing time is the issue and patience from those looking in from the outside does not guarantee success for the player.
So, Johnny Football needs the consideration and time to adapt to a whole new world and brand of the sport. I'd like to see him come into his own, and it won't be easy.
Something I think Tim Tebow needed— more time.
Good luck to Johnny, and if I were allowed to give him any advice, I would say, “Keep your nose clean.”
