Johnny Manziel may have lost the faith of a number of Cleveland Browns fans after the way he performed both on and off the field last season, but arguably the greatest player in franchise history still supports him.
Jim Brown, who has never been shy about criticizing his former team’s players, told USA Today’s Jarrett Bell this week that he is optimistic about the steps Manziel has made to improve as a person this offseason.
“I’m encouraged, because Johnny is addressing his situation, and that’s speaking to the world,” Brown said. “That message is encouraging. He’s going to give himself the best chance to succeed. Now if he were still in denial, we’d have a different conversation. If he didn’t go to rehab, this would be totally different.”
When asked if he has any advice for Manziel, Brown said he learned long ago that advice is a “quick trip to nowhere.” However, it sounds like the Hall of Famer would be more than willing to chat if Manziel reached out to him.
“So I’d say to him, ‘Your commitment to allow the world to know you want to work to change your life, I encourage and support you,'” Brown explained. “It would be that simple. I wouldn’t try to impart any great wisdom on him, because it’s a day-to-day process that he’s got to live with.”
Brown has said in the past that he likes Manziel and even defended the former Heisman Trophy winner’s love of partying.
Manziel moved from a downtown Cleveland apartment to a quiet golf community this offseason and even said he is planning to give up his trademark hand gesture. Aside from a minor incident at a PGA golf tournament, Manziel has kept his nose clean since leaving rehab and has not been photographed out drinking or partying.
Will that make him a better football player? We’ll just have to wait and see.
