Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has been in a rehabilitation program since late January. While there hasn’t been any real emphasis on the reasoning behind Manziel’s treatment, suggestions are that it’s for alcohol abuse.
Considering he’s now been in the program for two months, there’s talk about just when the 2014 first-round pick is planning on returning to the Browns.
And while Browns general manager Ray Farmer indicated recently that Manziel’s return will be dependent on those taking care of his in-house rehab, a report by ESPN tells us that the former Heisman winner will be back in time for the team’s workouts starting April 20th.
As ESPN notes, it is a “delicate” situation. There isn’t really an exit date that can be etched in stone at this point. All that depends on where Manziel is in his recovery, and where the facilitators of the rehab program believe he’s at. More than just returning to his football career, Manziel’s focus right now is getting his house in order off the field.
Farmer did go on to indicate that Manziel’s stint in rehab will not have any bearing on his ability to compete for the team’s starting quarterback job this summer.
That’d be the equivalent of me telling you that I could predict the future and tell you that he’s not prepared,” the general manager. “If he is prepared and he demonstrates the things that he needs to demonstrate, then yeah he should get every opportunity to be the guy.
Some will mock Manziel for his stay in rehab and what was a disastrous rookie season, but those people don’t understand the true nature of addiction. If Manziel is indeed serious about sobering up off the field, that will be the first step to turning around a suddenly fledgling football career on the field.
Now whether that’s enough to be the Browns starter in 2015 is a completely different story.
Photo: USA Today