Manziel sticks to rehab

Once again, the talk of the town is Johnny Manziel. However, talk of him has quieted down since he spent his last month in rehab. Now the uproar is back as he is getting even more praise for extending his “voluntary” stay in rehab.

Ever since he hit the field for Texas A&M as a redshirt quarterback in the fall of 2012, he has received only the highest praise for his performance. After all, not only can he run the ball and see the field well, but he as an undeniable natural instinct and a good arm as well. His only real disadvantage is his height. What’s not to like?

Maybe one disadvantage people weren’t taking into account were his partying charades. Given he was an extremely successful college athlete with the spotlight on him 24/7, Manziel more often than not found himself in a heap of trouble. Sure his partying habits may not affect his stats or performance as a NFL quarterback, but it seriously tarnishes his reputation and career.

On January 28, Manziel “voluntarily” signed himself into a rehabilitation center close to Cleveland in order to help get rid of his dependency on alcohol.

Sounds more like someone from the Browns behind closed doors seriously threatened to end his career and take away part of his contract if he didn’t get his act together. But since he is the oh so amazing Johnny Football, it was an act seeking his own salvation and redemption by going to rehab.

Let’s set a few things straight. His first mishap wasn’t even when he was in the spotlight as a starting quarterback for the Aggies, so no one can assume it was a habit that came with the newfound fame. While fighting for the number one spot as a redshirt, he was was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct by fighting and possession of a fake driver’s license. As a 20-year-old in college at the time, there really is no guessing as to why he had that fake ID.

Following the first incident, it has been nothing but love for Johnny regardless of his recklessness and party-prone behaviors leading into his rookie season. Many either turned their noses or praised him for his non stop offseason party shenanigans.

According to a report done by ESPN, Manziel, whose unapologetic stance about his offseason partying raised questions about his commitment, said this week he wants to be “the guy” for the Browns…”

“I’ve been assured that we are going to bring guys in and get guys off this bus that don’t really want to be here and do what they are supposed to do,” said his teammate veteran safety Donte Whitner.

Regardless of his ambitions to be “the guy” for the Browns, he still managed to get in trouble by his own design, whether it was being disrespectful on the field or not being where he was supposed to be. Even as an NFL quarterback, he and another teammate didn’t show up to a Saturday walk through and physical treatment after Manziel threw a party the night before.

While it takes a lot for someone to check himself into rehab, no one knows for sure if it was really him or not who pushed to take that final step. If he really did decide to sign himself in, that is an applause-worthy effort. However, it’s hard to believe considering how frequently he brings trouble to himself.

While he’s spending his time in rehab, hopefully he’s thinking about how badly he wants to be a winning franchise quarterback. If he can’t come through and clean up his act, what does he have to fall back on? A few sponsorship deals before the next hotshot takes over the news? Keep in mind he doesn’t even have a degree from Texas A&M because he was only enrolled for two years.

    Rehab can be an extremely tough process, so if he is willing to spend more than the allotted 28 days to be clean, hopefully it is his own determination pushing him to be a better player and role model. If it is, cheers to that.