Johnny Manziel is one of the most polarizing figures in sports, but he faces more criticism than praise. The Texas A&M star doesn’t exactly work diligently to keep a low profile, so he opens himself up most of it. However, Manziel can sleep well tonight knowing that he has a big fan in Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
Flacco told USA Today Sports over the weekend that Manziel is one of his favorite players.
“Being hated is not a bad thing. … I don’t know if I’ll be too popular after (saying) this: I (didn’t) know how I really felt about Johnny Manziel,” Flacco said. “But I feel like now that everybody hates him, he’s quickly becoming my favorite player in college football.”
Flacco was then asked if he intends to break out a celebration on Thursday that is similar to the money symbol Manziel made during a win over Rice. You know what his answer to that was.
“No, I’m not going do anything,” Flacco said. “It will all be up here (taps his temple). And I’ll keep it all up here. … I’m not going to show anything outwardly.”
Manziel and Flacco are nothing like one another, which makes Flacco’s admiration for the Heisman Trophy winner intriguing. Flacco has been described as boring by his own father, whereas Manziel’s dad has expressed concern that Johnny could have an ugly unraveling. Opposites attract, I suppose.
In reality, Flacco probably feels that same way about Manziel that Aaron Rodgers said he feels. As a Super Bowl MVP, Flacco understands the type of scrutiny that comes along with being a quarterback in the spotlight. Manziel doesn’t handle the situation as well as he could, but Flacco obviously isn’t fazed by it.
