The last time Johnny Manziel played in an NFL game was Week 16 of the 2015 season. Now, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner wants to play in the league again.
However, there are hurdles to clear for "Johnny Football" in order to possibly get another shot.
The 25-year old recently opened up and explained how he’s cleaned up his life since a series of incidents that got him cut from the Browns. Manziel stated how he was self-medicating with alcohol and suffering from depression. He also said he’s now taking medication for bipolar disorder, which he was diagnosed with about a year ago.
The former Texas A&M quarterback was drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Browns but off-the-field issues led him to being cut from the team, including an alleged domestic violence incident with his ex-girlfriend.
Manziel entered a rehabilitation center in 2015, which he said it gave him time to think. Since then, he’s launched his own line of apparel and has been training for another chance to play in the NFL again. However, his best option at the moment could be going north of the border and playing in the Canadian Football League. The CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats currently hold the rights to Manziel. His agent had previously imposed a January 31 deadline for a deal.
Manziel went 2-6 in his eight career NFL starts, throwing for 1,675 yards and seven touchdowns. Putting the dismal career numbers aside, Manziel has the talent to play in the NFL and showed glimpses of it during his time in the league. The question has always been whether his issues off the field would take away from that talent.
Now, Manziel wants to put that question to rest and possibly write a new chapter in his life which would include a comeback few would imagine.
