2. Get rid of Johnny Manziel. Don’t wait. Do it the first day — no, the first hour — you’re on the job. Assuming, of course, you can find him. What with rehab and partying and unexplained absences, he’s proven to be a lot more elusive off the field than he is on it.
As the Browns were closing out yet another lousy season on Sunday, Manziel was either at a blackjack table in Las Vegas, at home with his dog in Avon, Ohio, or somewhere in-between. No one is quite sure.
But I know where he wasn’t … with his team.
I’m pretty sure of that, because I watched the game on television and the only injured quarterback I saw on the Browns’ side of the field was Josh McCown — his right arm in a sling – offering encouragement to his teammates and advice to third-string quarterback Austin Davis.
It’s possible, I suppose, that Manziel wasn’t there on the advice of the medical staff. As I understand it, part of the treatment for concussion patients is to avoid bright lights and noise. But it was a gray day on the shores of Lake Erie and the only noise in the stadium came from a gaggle of Steelers fans waiving their ratty little yellow rags. And if Manziel stayed away for medical reasons, I’m sure the Browns would have made that information known. (According to a report on Deadspin, he had an appointment with the medical staff Sunday morning but never showed up).
I have no problem with pro athletes who party; the NFL has a rich history of extracurricular behavior: Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne (of whom it was said, “He drank six days a week and played football on Sundays”); Alex Karras and Paul Hornung, both of whom were suspended by the league for gambling; “Broadway” Joe Namath.
But not showing up on game day to be with your teammates, for whatever reason, is inexcusable.
So dump him, new management team. With luck, you’ll be able to con another gullible management team into taking him in exchange for a fifth-round draft choice.
And next season’s Browns team will be every bit as lousy without him.
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