After spending two and a half months in a rehab treatment facility, ESPN is reporting that Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has been released.
Johnny Manziel has been released from a drug and alcohol treatment facility, multiple sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 11, 2015
Manziel was a first round pick for the Browns out of Texas A&M last season and instantly became one of the best-selling jerseys in America. His popularity did not translate into success on the field to say the least.
But that was the old, hard-partying Manziel who looked so very bust-like in his first NFL season. There’s never been a question of Johnny Football’s physical talent or ability to play the position, in some ways spectacularly as he did in College Station, winning the Heisman Trophy as a redshirt freshman. As many people do with substance abuse problems, Manziel could turn on the charm in a moment’s notice, saying all the right things in front of the media when he’d get busted and punished for breaking team rules or missing practices because he’d been out drinking the night before.
In college, in high school, his talent alone was enough to compensate for his alcoholism and lack of preparation. In the NFL, that was never going to happen.
Roger Staubach: Johnny Manziel has what it takes to be an NFL QB if he addresses personal issues http://t.co/Bz8akh6ajK
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 12, 2015
When Manziel entered treatment on Jan. 28, his lawyer Brad Beckworth said it was to “be a better family member, friend and teammate.” It’s going to be the toughest battle of Manziel’s life and, for the first time for me at least, one in which I’ll be cheering him on.
The Browns’ offseason workouts begin April 20 and that should give the team a good idea where Manziel is at heading into the NFL Draft on April 30. There’s a lot of conjecture that the Browns might take a quarterback high this year and cut bait with Manziel, but as long as they see his commitment out of rehab, I see no reason to do that. Especially since guys like Connor Cook from Michigan State and Dak Prescott from Mississippi State will be in next year’s draft.
Unless Marcus Mariota falls into their lap this year, they can afford to wait since they’ve signed an insurance policy in Josh McCown. The Browns have two first round picks again this season and should use them to bolster other offensive positions, especially wide receiver in a very deep class of playmakers since it looks like Josh Gordon has played his last snap in Cleveland, if not in the NFL.
Jets to lock in Quinton Coples for fifth year
The New York Jets stifled any hope for Quinton Coples entering free agency after the 2015-16 season, if he realistically had any. ESPN’s Rich Cimini is reporting that the Jets will exercise Coples’ fifth-year option, locking him in for the 2016-17 season at the price of $7.8 million. Last year Coples had 35 tackles, 6.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
Want to thank God first and foremost for the blessing and secondly @nyjets for another oppurtunity…..#TrulyBlessed #DL #LB4L #GangGreen
— Quinton Coples (@QueCeasar) April 11, 2015
The Jets drafted Coples in the first round of the 2012 draft out of North Carolina and he’s played in every game but two since. At 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, Coples is a prototype 3-4 scheme edge rusher and at just 24, it makes sense to keep him around as long as they can, even at the cost of nearly $8 million. It’s likely the Jets will work on a long-term deal before that 2016 number is even reached.
Dolphins make Pouncey NFL’s highest paid center
With passing offenses getting more complex, the center position has gotten even more valuable in the modern NFL. Because of that, the Dolphins, who under offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, run one of the more sophisticated passing games in the NFL, are taking no chances, signing Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncy to a five-year extension that will pay him $52.15 million. The deal comes with $22 million guaranteed and an $11 million signing bonus.
5-year extension. Worth OVER $50M…
Set to become NFL's highest paid center http://t.co/RFmqxoVW7C (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/d9AcQiKku7
— NFL (@NFL) April 11, 2015
Pouncey will now have an advantage over his twin brother Maurkice with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last year Maurkice signed a five-year extension worth $44.13 million with the Steelers, with $13 million guaranteed. Though Maurkice did get a bigger signing bonus with $13 million.
Mike Pouncey was entering the final year of his rookie contract that would have paid him $7.4 million this season. Pouncey, like his brother, is a versatile offensive lineman and played 12 games at guard last season due to other injuries on the line, still making his second Pro Bowl even though he missed four games with an injury of his own.
The Dolphins say they’ll move Pouncey back to center this season, so look for them to invest multiple high picks in offensive linemen in the upcoming draft.
