Johnny Manziel reportedly celebrated his promotion to starting quarterback a little too much and cost himself the chance to lead the Cleveland Browns, and the 22-year-old’s present and future are both unclear.
According to Tom Withers of the Associated Press, Pettine said Manziel violated the trust of the coaching staff and team.
Pettine: "You lose trust in buckets and you gain it in drops." #Browns
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) November 25, 2015
Pettine added the franchise did not discuss cutting Manziel and isn’t ready to give up on the 2014 first-round pick, who was demoted to third-string quarterback following a “two-day bender” last week when the Browns were on a bye.
Manziel finally had a multi-game opportunity to prove he’s capable of leading an offense, but it’s unlikely he’ll even take another snap this season because of his off-field actions.
To date, he’s managed a 59.4 completion percentage, tallying 933 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Manziel, who has logged three starts, has also run for 90 yards on 17 attempts.
Since Manziel was a first-round pick, the Texas A&M product has two seasons left on his rookie contract, while the team holds a fifth-year option.
Unfortunately, it seems his future isn’t in Cleveland. A fresh start might be the best for both Manziel and the Browns, who could select another quarterback during the 2016 draft.