Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine may not expect Johnny Manziel to compete for the starting quarterback job this summer, but it sure sounds like Manziel’s teammates have faith in him.
On Tuesday, we learned that Manziel has moved out of his downtown Cleveland apartment and into a quiet golf community in the suburbs. Browns safety Donte Whitner revealed a couple of weeks ago that Manziel had relocated, and he described it as “just the beginning.”
“He made a move. He doesn’t live where he used to live anymore,” Whitner told Cleveland Browns Daily, according to Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com. “He’s not doing what he used to do, which is just the beginning. So I believe with hard work, with having new offensive coaches, a new mindset, not doing the things that you used to do, I believe it’ll all come together.”
Pettine admitted on Monday that veteran quarterback Josh McCown is the favorite to start heading into training camp, but that could be Pettine’s way of motivating Manziel even further.
“I’ve been a believer in Johnny from day one,” Whitner said. “The physical attributes, the fiery type of guy and the things that he brings to an offense and the problems he can give you on the defensive side of the football with that extra being able to get out of the pocket and let guys run free, I still believe that he can do those things. I believe that he will do those things. So we still believe in him. He’ll have to compete for a job, but I believe that he’s up for the task. So we’ll see what happens.”
Whitner is not the only Browns veteran to express confidence in Manziel, so Johnny Football is clearly well-liked by his teammates. He also appears to be taking the right steps toward changing his public image. Time will tell if all that transfers to the field for the former Heisman Trophy winner.
