<header id="yui_3_14_0_1_1399644085482_1316" class="header"> [h=1]How Johnny Manziel fell to the Browns at No. 22 in the NFL draft[/h] </header>
<cite class="byline vcard top-line"> By Charles Robinson <abbr>9 hours ago</abbr> </cite> Yahoo Sports
NEW YORK – It's rare a team completely skips your pro day, passes over you twice in the first eight picks of the NFL draft, and then swoops in to save you from a free fall. But Johnny Manziel likely won't hold any grudges against the Cleveland Browns.
The team that had one of the most erratic pursuits of Manziel will now count on him breathing new life into the franchise. How crazy was the journey to this draft pick? Consider back in January, word began to circulate that then-Browns general manager Mike Lombardi liked Manziel so much, he'd consider trading up to No. 1 just to get the Texas A&M star. One month later, Lombardi was fired and everything seemingly went out the window.
But in the end, this turned out to be a better script than Kevin Costner's turn as the Cleveland Browns general manager in "Draft Day." And far less believable, too. Not only did the Browns not show up for Manziel's pro day (they did have a private workout), they signed two free-agent quarterbacks leading into the NFL draft (Vince Young and Tyler Thigpen), then passed on Manziel at the fourth and eighth picks. And lest we forget, the Browns couldn't say enough good things about incumbent starter Brian Hoyer during the Manziel vetting process.
But the draft is always about value, and that's what this pick boiled down to. At fourth overall, Manziel was simply too big a gamble. When Cleveland traded back to eight, it was still too risky. While Browns general manager Ray Farmer and head coach Mike Pettine liked Manziel – and owner Jimmy Haslam clearly knew he'd sell tickets – a later opportunity was going to have to present itself. And one pick after another, that opportunity only grew. And when Cleveland saw real Manziel value in the 20s, they jumped in front of Kansas City, which began to look like a realistic landing spot for the Heisman Trophy winner.
Now the Browns get their potential star quarterback, albeit at the slightly jinxed 22nd pick, which is where Cleveland previously selected Brady Quinn and Brandon Weeden. Haslam gets a lightning rod for ticket sales. And Cleveland fans get some hope.
<figure class="cover get-lbdata-from-dom go-to-slideshow-lightbox" data-orig-index="0"> View gallery
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</figure>The Browns had opportunities to take Johnny Manziel at Nos. 4 and 8, but passed. (AP)
"For me there's no disappointment, no anything," Manziel said. "If you call it a slide, I wouldn't call it [that] at all. I was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. For me, it almost blows my mind." But it didn't come without many other potential teams passing. Yahoo Sports spoke to multiple NFL sources, including scouts, coaches and personnel men, who laid out the potential "why" of Manziel's slide.
Here were the factors that made all the difference for the teams that were in the mix…
1. HOUSTON TEXANS
Contact with Manziel: The Texans attended Manziel's pro day, had a private workout and hosted a visit with him.
It looked like it could happen when… In mid-April, the Texans told Manziel he was still in the final grouping for the No. 1 pick. That group included South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Manziel and Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack. Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles was also still in the mix, although the belief was that Houston considered him more for a trade-back scenario. If Houston remained at the top slot, the likely pick would be Clowney, Mack or Manziel, with Clowney holding the edge heading into May.
It didn't happen because… It became clear in early May that if the Texans remained at the top slot, the "conservative" option of best player available would win out. Despite his declined sack total as a junior, Clowney's tape still showed significant game impact when measuring pressures and the way SEC offenses played him. And although head coach Bill O'Brien was intrigued by Manziel, the belief was he favored Bortles throughout the process, because of size and style attributes fitting his preferred classic quarterback model. Manziel's playing style – and potential injury concerns – loomed in the equation as well.
The wild card could have been… Texans chief operating officer Cal McNair – the son of owner Bob McNair – is believed to have liked Manziel a great deal. And while Cal has gone out of his way to keep from stepping on the toes of general manager Rick Smith, he does share his personnel thoughts with his father. He also is known to break down film, and has been a fixture in practices in the past. McNair will turn 78 in January and Cal is being groomed to take over the team. And while that isn't expected to happen for a while, his ability to impact drafts is growing significantly.
2. ST. LOUIS RAMS
Contact with Manziel: The Rams attended Manziel's pro day, hosted a visit and worked him out along with Aggies wideout Mike Evans and offensive tackle Jake Matthews.
It looked like it could happen when… Word began to circulate shortly after Manziel's March pro day that the Rams were setting up a private workout with the Texas A&M star. Further, news had leaked out of the organization since January that not everyone believed in Bradford as the long-term answer at quarterback. The absence of pressure by St. Louis to get a contract extension has also been telling – and there still isn't a lot of movement on that front. It was no secret the Rams were at least going to look at quarterbacks, but a move toward Manziel suggested something more aggressive. Rams general manager Les Snead was also said to be intrigued by Manziel's athleticism and leadership.
It didn't happen because… A report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch stated the Manziel interest was simply a "smokescreen" being employed to stimulate trade offers. Conversely, a source suggested the Rams' "smokescreen" was even more elaborate – charging that St. Louis held the workout with Evans and Matthews simply to allow public wiggle room. Indeed, the joint workout raised a question: If the Rams were pump-faking their interest in Manziel, why not do with a solo workout with Rams wideouts? Wouldn't that have sold the Rams' interest as more serious than a "looking at all the A&M guys" storyline? Either way, only Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher will ever know their true intentions. But the events leading up to the draft suggest Manziel had an opportunity to impact the Rams' process, but ultimately didn't sway the decision-makers.
The wild card could have been… A significant trade offer for Bradford. If the Rams were employing a smokescreen to draw out trade offers for the No. 2 pick, a side impact would have been trade offers for Bradford. After all, if the Rams were thinking of taking Manziel, why wouldn't quarterback-needy teams inquire about Bradford? CBS Sports reported the Rams and Minnesota Vikings were believed to have had some trade discussions involving Bradford. Any deal for Bradford always seemed highly unlikely, with the market being flattened by his 2014 salary ($14 million) and history of injury problems.
3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Contact with Manziel: The Jaguars attended Manziel's pro day, had a dinner with him and also hosted him on a visit.
<figure class="cover get-lbdata-from-dom go-to-slideshow-lightbox" data-orig-index="1"> View gallery
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</figure>The Jaguars made Blake Bortles (right) the first QB taken in the 2014 draft. (AP)
It looked like it could happen when… The Blaine Gabbert project was ditched in March via a trade to San Francisco, and word began to circulate that Jaguars owner Shad Khan had expressed an interest in Manziel. There were also ticket sales to consider in Jacksonville, because wherever Manziel went he would be expected to spike fan interest. The Jaguars then attended Manziel's pro day, met with him for dinner, and had significant personnel and coaching staff talks about him. In early May, general manager Dave Caldwell also expressed his belief that Manziel was the most "ready" starting quarterback in the class. And 48 hours before the draft – when rumors begin to translate into realities – word spread like wildfire through the NFL community that Jacksonville had settled on Manziel at the third pick.
It didn't happen because… As the talk about Teddy Bridgewater slipping heated up, the Jaguars were plowing through piles of homework on him, suggesting they might be angling for the Louisville star at the top of the second round. And throughout
NEW YORK – It's rare a team completely skips your pro day, passes over you twice in the first eight picks of the NFL draft, and then swoops in to save you from a free fall. But Johnny Manziel likely won't hold any grudges against the Cleveland Browns.
The team that had one of the most erratic pursuits of Manziel will now count on him breathing new life into the franchise. How crazy was the journey to this draft pick? Consider back in January, word began to circulate that then-Browns general manager Mike Lombardi liked Manziel so much, he'd consider trading up to No. 1 just to get the Texas A&M star. One month later, Lombardi was fired and everything seemingly went out the window.
But in the end, this turned out to be a better script than Kevin Costner's turn as the Cleveland Browns general manager in "Draft Day." And far less believable, too. Not only did the Browns not show up for Manziel's pro day (they did have a private workout), they signed two free-agent quarterbacks leading into the NFL draft (Vince Young and Tyler Thigpen), then passed on Manziel at the fourth and eighth picks. And lest we forget, the Browns couldn't say enough good things about incumbent starter Brian Hoyer during the Manziel vetting process.
But the draft is always about value, and that's what this pick boiled down to. At fourth overall, Manziel was simply too big a gamble. When Cleveland traded back to eight, it was still too risky. While Browns general manager Ray Farmer and head coach Mike Pettine liked Manziel – and owner Jimmy Haslam clearly knew he'd sell tickets – a later opportunity was going to have to present itself. And one pick after another, that opportunity only grew. And when Cleveland saw real Manziel value in the 20s, they jumped in front of Kansas City, which began to look like a realistic landing spot for the Heisman Trophy winner.
Now the Browns get their potential star quarterback, albeit at the slightly jinxed 22nd pick, which is where Cleveland previously selected Brady Quinn and Brandon Weeden. Haslam gets a lightning rod for ticket sales. And Cleveland fans get some hope.
<figure class="cover get-lbdata-from-dom go-to-slideshow-lightbox" data-orig-index="0"> View gallery
.
"For me there's no disappointment, no anything," Manziel said. "If you call it a slide, I wouldn't call it [that] at all. I was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. For me, it almost blows my mind." But it didn't come without many other potential teams passing. Yahoo Sports spoke to multiple NFL sources, including scouts, coaches and personnel men, who laid out the potential "why" of Manziel's slide.
Here were the factors that made all the difference for the teams that were in the mix…
1. HOUSTON TEXANS
Contact with Manziel: The Texans attended Manziel's pro day, had a private workout and hosted a visit with him.
It looked like it could happen when… In mid-April, the Texans told Manziel he was still in the final grouping for the No. 1 pick. That group included South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Manziel and Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack. Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles was also still in the mix, although the belief was that Houston considered him more for a trade-back scenario. If Houston remained at the top slot, the likely pick would be Clowney, Mack or Manziel, with Clowney holding the edge heading into May.
It didn't happen because… It became clear in early May that if the Texans remained at the top slot, the "conservative" option of best player available would win out. Despite his declined sack total as a junior, Clowney's tape still showed significant game impact when measuring pressures and the way SEC offenses played him. And although head coach Bill O'Brien was intrigued by Manziel, the belief was he favored Bortles throughout the process, because of size and style attributes fitting his preferred classic quarterback model. Manziel's playing style – and potential injury concerns – loomed in the equation as well.
The wild card could have been… Texans chief operating officer Cal McNair – the son of owner Bob McNair – is believed to have liked Manziel a great deal. And while Cal has gone out of his way to keep from stepping on the toes of general manager Rick Smith, he does share his personnel thoughts with his father. He also is known to break down film, and has been a fixture in practices in the past. McNair will turn 78 in January and Cal is being groomed to take over the team. And while that isn't expected to happen for a while, his ability to impact drafts is growing significantly.
2. ST. LOUIS RAMS
Contact with Manziel: The Rams attended Manziel's pro day, hosted a visit and worked him out along with Aggies wideout Mike Evans and offensive tackle Jake Matthews.
It looked like it could happen when… Word began to circulate shortly after Manziel's March pro day that the Rams were setting up a private workout with the Texas A&M star. Further, news had leaked out of the organization since January that not everyone believed in Bradford as the long-term answer at quarterback. The absence of pressure by St. Louis to get a contract extension has also been telling – and there still isn't a lot of movement on that front. It was no secret the Rams were at least going to look at quarterbacks, but a move toward Manziel suggested something more aggressive. Rams general manager Les Snead was also said to be intrigued by Manziel's athleticism and leadership.
It didn't happen because… A report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch stated the Manziel interest was simply a "smokescreen" being employed to stimulate trade offers. Conversely, a source suggested the Rams' "smokescreen" was even more elaborate – charging that St. Louis held the workout with Evans and Matthews simply to allow public wiggle room. Indeed, the joint workout raised a question: If the Rams were pump-faking their interest in Manziel, why not do with a solo workout with Rams wideouts? Wouldn't that have sold the Rams' interest as more serious than a "looking at all the A&M guys" storyline? Either way, only Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher will ever know their true intentions. But the events leading up to the draft suggest Manziel had an opportunity to impact the Rams' process, but ultimately didn't sway the decision-makers.
The wild card could have been… A significant trade offer for Bradford. If the Rams were employing a smokescreen to draw out trade offers for the No. 2 pick, a side impact would have been trade offers for Bradford. After all, if the Rams were thinking of taking Manziel, why wouldn't quarterback-needy teams inquire about Bradford? CBS Sports reported the Rams and Minnesota Vikings were believed to have had some trade discussions involving Bradford. Any deal for Bradford always seemed highly unlikely, with the market being flattened by his 2014 salary ($14 million) and history of injury problems.
3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Contact with Manziel: The Jaguars attended Manziel's pro day, had a dinner with him and also hosted him on a visit.
<figure class="cover get-lbdata-from-dom go-to-slideshow-lightbox" data-orig-index="1"> View gallery
.
It looked like it could happen when… The Blaine Gabbert project was ditched in March via a trade to San Francisco, and word began to circulate that Jaguars owner Shad Khan had expressed an interest in Manziel. There were also ticket sales to consider in Jacksonville, because wherever Manziel went he would be expected to spike fan interest. The Jaguars then attended Manziel's pro day, met with him for dinner, and had significant personnel and coaching staff talks about him. In early May, general manager Dave Caldwell also expressed his belief that Manziel was the most "ready" starting quarterback in the class. And 48 hours before the draft – when rumors begin to translate into realities – word spread like wildfire through the NFL community that Jacksonville had settled on Manziel at the third pick.
It didn't happen because… As the talk about Teddy Bridgewater slipping heated up, the Jaguars were plowing through piles of homework on him, suggesting they might be angling for the Louisville star at the top of the second round. And throughout
