http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/browns/2015/02/02/johnny-manziel-treatment/22740463/
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel entered treatment Wednesday.
Manziel's publicist, Denise Michaels, released a statement to explain his decision.
"Brad Beckworth, a friend and advisor to Manziel and his family, has confirmed that Johnny entered treatment on Wednesday," according to the statement. "Johnny knows there are areas in which he needs to improve in order to be a better family member, friend and teammate and he thought the off-season was the right time to take this step.
"On behalf of Johnny and his family, we're asking for privacy until he rejoins the team in Cleveland."
The Northeast Ohio Media Group first reported the news.
Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer also issued a statement:
"We respect Johnny's initiative in this decision and will fully support him throughout this process," Farmer said. "Our players' health and well-being will always be of the utmost importance to the Cleveland Browns. We continually strive to create a supportive environment and provide the appropriate resources, with our foremost focus being on the individual and not just the football player. Johnny's privacy will be respected by us during this very important period and we hope that others will do the same."
Manziel's partying since joining the Browns was easily followed by millions on social media. Perhaps most memorably, he was seen chugging champagne while floating on an inflatable swan before his rookie season and later slurring words into a stack of bills he pretended was a huge cellphone.
But despite the notoriety, Manziel didn't unseat Browns starting quarterback Brian Hoyer until the team was essentially eliminated from playoff contention late in the season.
Despite the hype surrounding his promotion, Manziel was highly ineffective in both of his starts and left the second with a hamstring injury in Week 16, his final appearance of the season. He threw for 175 yards as a rookie with zero touchdown passes and two interceptions. He did rush for his first NFL score during mop-up duty in Week 13.
And as the Browns season ended Manziel admitted he should have worked harder.
"I'm not the Johnny Manziel that came in here a year ago," he said. "It's been a year of growing up for me. This is a job for me now. I have to take this a lot more seriously than maybe I did at first still going home and doing whatever I was doing in the offseason."
Farmer, clearly frustrated by season's end, did not give the first-round pick a ringing endorsement even as he belatedly tried to accept more accountability.
"I would tell you that the words don't mean anything. I'm not a big word guy. It's all about action," said Farmer.
Hoyer is scheduled to enter free agency, which would leave Manziel and fellow rookie Connor Shaw as the only quarterbacks on the roster.
"I would say our quarterback picture is muddy at best and obviously will be a major point," coach Mike Pettine said after the season. "When we allocate time to discussing each position I have a sense that quarterback will be given the most."
Cleveland has two first-round picks in the upcoming draft, and Farmer has expressed a willingness to use one on another passer if the circumstances are right.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel entered treatment Wednesday.
Manziel's publicist, Denise Michaels, released a statement to explain his decision.
"Brad Beckworth, a friend and advisor to Manziel and his family, has confirmed that Johnny entered treatment on Wednesday," according to the statement. "Johnny knows there are areas in which he needs to improve in order to be a better family member, friend and teammate and he thought the off-season was the right time to take this step.
"On behalf of Johnny and his family, we're asking for privacy until he rejoins the team in Cleveland."
The Northeast Ohio Media Group first reported the news.
Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer also issued a statement:
"We respect Johnny's initiative in this decision and will fully support him throughout this process," Farmer said. "Our players' health and well-being will always be of the utmost importance to the Cleveland Browns. We continually strive to create a supportive environment and provide the appropriate resources, with our foremost focus being on the individual and not just the football player. Johnny's privacy will be respected by us during this very important period and we hope that others will do the same."
Manziel's partying since joining the Browns was easily followed by millions on social media. Perhaps most memorably, he was seen chugging champagne while floating on an inflatable swan before his rookie season and later slurring words into a stack of bills he pretended was a huge cellphone.
But despite the notoriety, Manziel didn't unseat Browns starting quarterback Brian Hoyer until the team was essentially eliminated from playoff contention late in the season.
Despite the hype surrounding his promotion, Manziel was highly ineffective in both of his starts and left the second with a hamstring injury in Week 16, his final appearance of the season. He threw for 175 yards as a rookie with zero touchdown passes and two interceptions. He did rush for his first NFL score during mop-up duty in Week 13.
And as the Browns season ended Manziel admitted he should have worked harder.
"I'm not the Johnny Manziel that came in here a year ago," he said. "It's been a year of growing up for me. This is a job for me now. I have to take this a lot more seriously than maybe I did at first still going home and doing whatever I was doing in the offseason."
Farmer, clearly frustrated by season's end, did not give the first-round pick a ringing endorsement even as he belatedly tried to accept more accountability.
"I would tell you that the words don't mean anything. I'm not a big word guy. It's all about action," said Farmer.
Hoyer is scheduled to enter free agency, which would leave Manziel and fellow rookie Connor Shaw as the only quarterbacks on the roster.
"I would say our quarterback picture is muddy at best and obviously will be a major point," coach Mike Pettine said after the season. "When we allocate time to discussing each position I have a sense that quarterback will be given the most."
Cleveland has two first-round picks in the upcoming draft, and Farmer has expressed a willingness to use one on another passer if the circumstances are right.
