Johnny Manziel knows he is on ‘the last of the last chances’

Johnny Manziel may have burned off virtually all of his NFL goodwill, but he knows after throwing at the University of San Diego’s Pro Day that this is it for him.

Manziel told Bruce Feldman of Sports Illustrated that he has told his older friends that he’s done taking trips or acting destructively as he tries to seize his last chance.

“When I first got in the league, did I have some leeway? Sure I did, but I have exhausted all leeway and all second chances,” Manziel said. “This isn’t the second chance. This is the 35th chance. This is the last of the last chances to show people that I’ve made a drastic change in my life, and it’s for the better and I’m happy with where I’m at.

“I need to be safe for myself. I’ve let multiple people know—guys that had been around me for years, I reached out to a multitude of people and said, ‘Listen, I’ve never been selfish in my football career. I’ve always flown you guys to every game. I’ve gotten you tickets. I’ve done everything. But for now, I’m selfish with what I need to do because I don’t have room for you guys to come around and for me to get off on a bad path. It just can’t happen. I’m happy. I’m married and I’m doing what I’m doing. My wife is my buffer with all of the bulls—. She doesn’t let me get away with any of the B.S. She’s just straight to the point. She has my best interest at heart, and there’s times where I don’t like it. I’m still a stubborn guy—I don’t like listening all the time. I’ve had a lot better sense of being able to sit back and reflect, even if it’s a daily reflection. I have that backstop. I’m working with good people and I’m working the majority of the day.”

Manziel is right that his football career is over if he blows it again. For now, he has interest, and he’s just waiting for the call.