The summer is used for NFL rookies to get affiliated with their new teams, new free agents to find their role in new cities and veterans to establish the type of chemistry that will last for an entire year. While all of that is going down, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is just trying to grow up.
After a rookie season where the troubled former Texas A&M star quarterback started just two games and did little to impress, Manziel had to know he was on thin ice with the Cleveland Browns. That may have been a huge reason why he spent over a month at a rehab clinic for unspecified reasons. But regardless of why, Manziel seems to finally be on the right track as training camp slowly approaches.
The latest sign that the second-year pro finally has his mind right? He’s ditching the controversial “money hands” touchdown celebration. Fans only got to see it in preseason play and one time on a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the regular season, but the clearly wiser Manziel has decided to “retire” the much-hated (and also much-loved) celebration.
“The money sign will not be back”, Manziel confessed in a recent interview. “I will not be making it”.
Whether Cleveland’s coaching staff or front office suggested the money hands celebration to hang’em up or it was Manziel’s own idea, it may be a sign of maturation that Manziel is ready to move on from childish antics that aren’t necessarily becoming of a professional, successful NFL franchise passer.
So, what does it all mean? On the surface, it could mean that “Money Manziel” is no longer a thing and that the darkness that was previously hanging over the man the nation has come to know as Johnny Football may finally be lifted permanently.
It’s too early to tell if all of the would-be positive changes Manziel has processed will lead to better production on the field or if he’ll even get a true chance to prove himself. For now, Manziel is just a wide-eyed backup behind starter Josh McCown. He still doesn’t have the offense completely down and by all accounts has quite a ways to go in the next two months before he could give McCown even the slightest of pushes.
Ditching the money sign flash is a step in the right direction, though, and one Manziel absolutely needed to make. His persona was a colorful and entertaining one, but it was also one of a brash party boy who had little regard for himself or anyone else. That’s not the mark of a very good person and it certainly isn’t the foundation in which to build a long, successful NFL career. The fact that Manziel has realized that and is trying to do the right things speaks volumes. Now we can let his play do the rest of the talking.
Think Money Manziel’s disappearing act is a tease and Johnny Football is destined to be a bust? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments below!
