There have been a few positive reports about Johnny Manziel this offseason. The latest is that he took a trip to work on his game with a former Super Bowl coach who knows a few things about quarterback play.
Manziel worked on film study and mechanics with Jon Gruden, the former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach who works for ESPN. ESPN's Patrick McManamon reported the story. The report said Manziel went to visit Gruden in Tampa this past week. Gruden's main gig is as a "Monday Night Football" commentator, but he also does the popular "Gruden QB Camp" series in the offseason with young quarterbacks.
Manziel, the former Heisman Trophy winner and the Cleveland Browns' second of two first-round picks last year, at least seems to realize that he needs to do things a lot differently after a lost rookie season.
Manziel started two games as a rookie. One was a horrible start against Cincinnati, and the next one ended in the first half because of a hamstring injury against Carolina. His off-field life has always been under scrutiny, and he spent time in a rehab facility this offseason. Various reports indicate that Manziel seems to understand that becoming a good NFL quarterback is beyond a full-time job. The trip to see Gruden indicates he's working at it.
Can he still become a star? The Browns would love it if he could, though they don't seem to be counting on it. Cleveland signed veteran journeyman Josh McCown this offseason and there have been reports that the team has basically given up on Manziel. But you don't invest a first-round pick in a quarterback to give up after two NFL starts. Manziel will have to learn how to play in the structure of an NFL offense, and he'll always have his lack of size working against him, but it's obviously not too late for him to become a quality NFL starter. A lot of players struggled as rookies and then turned it around.
When Gruden was coaching he was well known for his work with quarterbacks, and also showing up to the office every day before the sun came up. Maybe some of that rubs off on Manziel. If nothing else, at least Manziel is putting in the effort to get better.
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