The Cleveland Browns on Tuesday refuted a report that says they lied to cover up for Johnny Manziel by placing him in concussion protocol during the final week of the season.
Manziel was placed in concussion protocol in the week leading up to the team’s season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17. There was a report at the time saying that Manziel showed up to the team’s facility drunk mid-week and was placed in concussion protocol as a cover-up.
On Tuesday, NFL Media’s Mike Silver reported the same. He says he spoke with members of the Browns who say they believe Manziel was drunk when he showed up on Wednesday at the team facility and that the team placed the quarterback in concussion protocol as a cover-up.
The Browns responded strongly to the accusation of improper conduct. They say Silver’s report is false.
“Johnny Manziel came to our facility on the morning of December 30th and complained of concussion symptoms,” the Browns said in a statement. “He was tested by an independent neurologist and entered the league’s concussion protocol. He remained in the protocol until January 12th after being cleared by the independent neurologist.”
It seems like the difference here is that some Browns players believe Manziel was drunk and that the Browns placed him in concussion protocol as a cover-up. The issue is that Silver presents the information as undeniable fact.
Silver addressed his report and the Browns’ response in some follow-up tweets on Twitter.
“I’ve been told by multiple sources that Manziel showed up late to the tea facility for a meeting & noticeably drunk on Wednesday, Dec. 30. He was later placed in the concussion protocol & sent home. I am not a doctor & thus cannot presume to question the diagnosis of an independent neurologist or any medical professional… I do not have direct knowledge of what Manziel may have told the doctor or doctors who evaluated him, or what might have been suggested. If the Browns say they did not lie about Manziel’s diagnosis, I will take them at their word, and I regret using that term (“lied”). I stand by my original report that Manziel showed up drunk at practice & that witnesses believed this was the cause of his ‘behavior.’ This will be my last comment on the subject, pending further reporting,” Silver said on Twitter.
