Ever since they turned the brand new Browns in 1999, the franchise has continually looked for an ace quarterback.

Within the new summer season collection of “Untold”, Netflix dives into anthology tales in regards to the doping scandal of Victor Conte, the Florida Gators’ highway to the highest, despised boxer Jake Paul, and former Cleveland Browns signalcaller Johnny Manziel and his flying circus. The Manziel episode will air on August 8.

Cleveland was nonetheless trying to find their subsequent nice quarterback and chosen Manziel with the 22^nd decide within the 2014 NFL draft. Whereas at Texas A&M, Manziel, nicknamed Johnny Soccer, took the varsity’s Air Raid offense to new heights as he broke quite a few FBS and SEC data. He additionally turned the primary freshman in faculty soccer historical past to move for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in the identical season.

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In 2012, Manziel gained the Heisman Trophy and nearly each different offensive award together with SEC Offensive Participant of the 12 months.

The Browns had two picks within the first spherical of the draft and chosen CB Justin Gilbert at Quantity 8. Then at decide #22, they took Manziel. Future Corridor of Fame DT Aaron Donald was chosen at Quantity 13.

A variety of pleasure and hope was hooked up to Manziel turning into the feeling he displayed in faculty. However he by no means got here near exhibiting that magical potential with inconsistent play, and after simply two seasons was launched.

The collection dives into his party-boy angle and the way Cleveland gave him each probability to succeed and flourish. Manziel performed in simply 14 video games with eight begins.

Former Browns head coach Mike Pettine benched Manziel in his second season proper earlier than a Monday Evening recreation in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens. On the time, Coach Pettine acknowledged:

“Josh McCown would be the beginning quarterback on Monday evening in opposition to the [Baltimore] Ravens,” Pettine stated. “I knowledgeable the quarterbacks of that call after I sat down and spoke with Johnny, [offensive coordinator John DeFilippo], and [quarterbacks coach] Kevin [O’Connell] after follow at the moment. Johnny would be the third quarterback. I’ve spoken to [General Manager] Ray [Farmer) and [owner] Jimmy [Haslam] to tell them of my choice, and they’re in full assist.”

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Manziel had spent greater than 10 weeks through the low season in an inpatient rehabilitation facility specializing in alcohol and drug habit remedy.

Pettine additional defined:

“It’s just a little simpler to deal with when it’s a one-time prevalence. However when the habits repeats — and never simply him, with anyone — actually [it’s] a trigger for concern.”

Manziel got here from cash. His great-grandfather Bobby Joe Manziel was a bantamweight boxer who was mates with heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. The elder Manziel borrowed $400 from Dempsey so as to drill oil on the grounds of a church in Gladewater, Texas which produced a gusher.

After settling down in Tyler, Texas, Bobby Joe Manziel turned a well-known rich oil man.

Manziel comes from a household with a historical past of gifted athletes and ample inherited wealth. And with all these monetary sources, Manziel couldn’t keep out of hassle. In a characteristic story printed by ESPN The Journal, Manziel’s father, John Paul, acknowledged that he was involved about his son’s anger points, his consuming, and his struggles dealing as a star and being a school athlete from a privileged life.

On the timeline near his Texas A&M commencement, Manziel was quoted on mySanAntonio.com as saying:

“There’s such a stereotype round student-athletes. They’ll’t come to grips with the actual fact I’ve been blessed with relations or no matter who’ve had these (monetary) alternatives, and I’ve all the time been in a position to do that.”

In response to Netflix supplies printed in regards to the Manziel episode, they state that Manziel is interviewed alongside together with his agent, former coaches, his lifelong greatest good friend, and relations. No paparazzi member was injured through the filming of this episode. The publicity additionally states that Manziel himself presents a full accounting of his misdeeds whereas as a member of the Browns.

Photograph by Todd Kirkland/Fan Managed Soccer/Getty Photos

Oddly sufficient, Manziel continues to be enjoying skilled soccer as a member of the Zappers within the Fan Managed Soccer (FCF) league, an indoor entity that performs all video games in Atlanta.

After the Browns, he took off a number of seasons earlier than signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Soccer League (CFL) who had initially drafted his rights. His signing into the CFL got here with drug and alcohol stipulations. He was on Hamilton’s roster for the primary six video games however by no means performed. The Ti-Cats then traded him to the Montreal Alouettes whose head coach was Mike Sherman.

Manziel performed eight video games however struggled. The next season, Montreal launched him from orders of the league as a result of he had “contravened” the phrases of his CFL contract. A part of the settlement was for the troubled quarterback to go to a therapist on a weekly foundation which he didn’t. The CFL mandated that no different membership might signal him which basically banned him from the league.

Photograph by Joe Robbins/AAF/Getty Photos

He landed with the Memphis Specific of the AAF and performed one and one-half video games earlier than the league folded. In 2020 he joined the FCF. He acknowledged his purpose was out of boredom with none future risk of enjoying within the NFL. Final yr he was named the participant/coach of the Zappers.

Manziel’s identify has popped up every year concerning each the USFL and XFL seasons. When requested about becoming a member of both league, he stated:

“I believe soccer is just a little bit behind me. Soccer for me will not be on the forefront of my thoughts. Pay attention, something ‘The Rock’ touches will all the time be gold.”

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was the principal proprietor of the XFL which just lately concluded their re-boot season with the Arlington Renegades successful the title.

So far as the Browns’ draft decide busts, it’s a shut race between LB Mike Junkin and Manziel.

On the very least, the Netflix episode about Johnny Soccer must be fascinating. Then once more, it simply could also be a stroll down reminiscence lane that almost all Browns followers would simply somewhat neglect.