Johnny Manziel says he is ‘mostly being healthy,’ won’t swear off drinking

Johnny Manziel would be overcoming some very long odds if he ever played in the NFL again, but he claims he is doing all the right things now that he has rededicated himself to a healthy lifestyle.

In a great feature from Kent Babb of the Washington Post that highlights some of the ways Manziel’s career and life have come unraveled, Manziel said in a statement that he is doing well. However, he stopped short of predicting an NFL comeback.

“I’m actually doing well,” the former Browns quarterback said. “I have good friends around me supporting what I do and I try to support them in what they want to do. I’m not saying I’m never drinking again, but for now just mostly being healthy. I’ve got a killer gym in my house and I can spend time working out. I’m interested in doing a lot of different things in my life — including football — but, right now, I’m just exploring options and waiting to see what the future holds.”

For what it’s worth, Manziel’s tattoo artist and friend Rafael Valdez told Babb he hasn’t seen Manziel drink alcohol in weeks. Still, NFL teams would probably rather hear that Manziel is going back to rehab and trying to quit drinking altogether.

Manziel claimed he was going sober after a recent trip to Cabo — the same trip he was spotted smoking something suspicious on the beach. Those close to him claim Manziel is focusing on playing in the NFL again, though some of the 24-year-old’s friends told Babb that Manziel changes the subject if anyone brings up his playing career.

“Just a known thing that you don’t really bring up unless he wants to,” one friend said.

That same friend said he or she does not believe Manziel intends to play football again.

If Manziel does want to play again, he might have to consider taking this offer. That’s pretty much all he has at the moment.