Last year while Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller was busy working his way to Super Bowl MVP, free agent Johnny Manziel was doing quite the opposite.
Manziel’s name was and still is in the news for all of the wrong reasons.
Miller was hoping that he could help get his fellow Texas A&M alumni back on course, and he even vouched for him fervently when others were bailing (more on that here).
He spoke about his intentions to help his friend, noting he himself had to find a way out of a dark place.
“This year, I felt like I was in a place where I could shed some positive light on him,” Miller said per Mina Kimes of ESPN. “I have a blueprint, it worked for me.”
For whatever reason, Miller and Manziel clearly did not connect to roll out Miller’s plan. Per Kimes, Miller’s program for Manziel would have included working out, and hiring a personal chef to create healthy dishes while the two roomed together.
Miller also tried to pass along life lessons he was taught by his mentor to Manziel, Josh Gordon and Martavis Bryant.
“Honestly, I don’t know how you gain somebody’s trust to get them to take your advice. I’ve tried … but they don’t retain it like I did. I guess you gotta really want it.”
She also suggests that the plan may have not gotten launched because the public “caught wind of the arrangement.”
From a domestic violence indictment to excessive partying to an NFL suspension and many negative showings in between, Manziel has become untouchable for NFL teams.
Miller made it clear he’s not concerned about Manziel’s future in regards to playing football. It’s his life that’s the big deal.
“F— football. If you don’t want to play football, don’t play football. It’s not that big of a deal.”
It is clear that Manziel has little drive to play the sport. Otherwise he would not have completely flushed his NFL career down the toilet over the course of two seasons.
Though, recently Manziel did say that he would like to play for the Dallas Cowboys. And, last time we checked, the team did need a quarterback.
Joking aside, it was commendable Miller wanted to take on the major project in transforming Manziel. All we can wonder is if he would have had an ounce of success had the two actually spent time together.