The Browns are finally cutting Johnny Manziel

Johnny Manziel, about to be cut from the Cleveland Browns

(Image credit: Elsa/Getty Images)

last updated 3 February 2016

In 2014, when recent Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel walked on stage at the NFL draft with a Cleveland Browns hat on his head and his hands making their signature "show me the money" gesture, he promised to "wreck this league." Two years later, he has mostly just wrecked his reputation and pro football prospects. On Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns released a statement criticizing "Johnny's continual involvement in incidents" that run counter to the team's off-field expectations, saying his behavior "undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization." The Browns will address "his status with our team" as soon as "permitted by league rules," the team added, without elaborating.

That is widely interpreted to mean that the Browns are cutting Manziel from the team. "Manziel's time with the Cleveland Browns will come to an end in March," reports Pat McManamon at ESPN, citing "a league source." Manziel only started eight games in his two years with the team, appearing in seven others, and while he showed moments of competence on the field, it wasn't enough to offset his off-field partying and other antics. "Johnny Football leaves Cleveland with his reputation and image deflated," McManamon concludes. And if you're curious, The Associated Press lists some of Manziel's extracurricular low points.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.