There hasn't been a more polarizing figure in college football, maybe ever, than former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. And now, there's probably about to have never been a more polarizing figure concerning the NFL draft than Johnny Manziel.
It's been a popular practice recently for analysts to chime in on their opinions on Johnny Football and what he projects to at the next level after setting the college football world on fire by winning the Heisman Trophy as a redshirt freshman in 2012 and putting up even better numbers in 2013 against some of the best defenses in the country in the Southeastern Conference.
Tony Dungy has questioned him. Ron Jaworski has said he wouldn't take him in the first few rounds of the draft. Now, Barry Switzer is chiming in as not so much an analyst but just a hot button voice in football.
The former Super Bowl winning head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and national championship winning coach at Oklahoma sounded off on Manziel when speaking with CBS Sports Radio 920 AM in St. Louis on Wednesday.
“I’m gonna tell you. I don’t like his antics,” Switzer, never one to pull punches, told the radio station. “I think he’s an arrogant little pr***.
“I’ve said that and I’ll say it again. He’s a privileged kid, he’s embarrassed himself, he’s embarrassed his teammates, his program. He’s embarrassed his coach. And they’ll all have to defend him because they have to coach. I know that. I spent 40 years in the damn game so I know how it works.”
Switching his thoughts to Manziel's on-field prowess, however, Switzer's tune totally changed, which isn't surprising.
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"He’s the best I’ve seen," Switzer said. "I’ve never seen a quarterback in college football take control of a game like he does and put up the numbers he does. It’s fantastic what he’s done against good competition. Game after game after game, the numbers he puts up are staggering.
"You can’t get to him, he’s quick, he has more quickness than he does speed. He’s elusive. You can’t touch him. … Strong arm. You watch him on film and tape and I’ve watched him enough — the guy is oblivious to the rush. He lets you think you’re going to touch him and then he disappears and he gets away from you and buys time. When a guy does that, guys are going to separate.”
The hits have come toward Manziel from every direction recently. Some have questioned his durability. Some have questioned how his game translates to the next level. Switzer just questions his maturity, basically. I guess if you're Johnny Football, you'll take that.
