Johnny Manziel was once hailed as a potential star of the NFL, but his career quickly spiraled out of control. Now, fans and analysts are reflecting on the reasons for his failure. One common theme that has emerged is that his character and work ethic were major factors in his downfall. This harsh evaluation of the former quarterback’s career comes as a surprise to many, as he was once seen as a dynamic and talented player.
As the NFL draft approaches, old footage of draft predictions that didn’t age well are making the rounds online. One of these clips features Skip Bayless and Merril Hoge debating on ESPN’s First Take about Johnny Manziel’s potential as a quarterback. Hoge predicted that he would be a bust, but Bayless disagreed vehemently and went so far as to list all the accolades he believed the young quarterback would win in the NFL.
“Merril Hoge, with all due respect, you have never ever been more wrong in your assessment of a football player than you just were about Johnny Manziel,” said Bayless. “He won’t be a bust. He’s going to be a franchise player. He’s going to be a star. He will make Pro Bowls.”
This is why watching tape is vital to evaluating players and their ability to transition to the NFL. No STAT can EVER tell you about a college players ability to play in the NFL and no award or championship they won means they can play in the NFL. https://t.co/8Km0YIk8NL
— Merril Hoge (@merrilhoge) April 16, 2023
Unfortunately, his career did not pan out the way Bayless had predicted. Fans now attribute his failure to character and work ethic issues that were not apparent when he was playing college football.
What are fans saying about Johnny Manziel?
One fan tweeted that his failure in the NFL was not due to his lack of talent, but rather his poor character and work ethic. This means that the former NFL quarterback may have had the physical abilities necessary to succeed in the league, but his attitude and work habits held him back.
Manziel's NFL failure wasn't because he wasn't good enough.
He failed because of character and work ethics issues that aren't apparent when watching his college tape
— Shawn Foss (@Shawn_Foss) April 16, 2023
Another fan criticized Manziel’s approach to the game. Additionally, the fan highlighted Manziel’s poor attitude, which contributed to his failure.
Manziel never read a playbook in college. All he did was play street football. Same thing with his TE Jace Amaro. Both were criticized in the pros when they got there. Manziel also had a horrible attitude. Skip Bayless and Stephen A Smith are blowhards.
— Brad Berkowitz (@BradBerkowitz) April 16, 2023
One fan suggested that the former NFL quarterback lacked certain intangible qualities that are necessary for success in the NFL, such as leadership skills and the ability to command a room. He emphasized the difficulty of drafting players and suggested that teams should take as many chances as possible to find the right fit.
Good stuff….Manziel never had the personality, the cerebral, the "command the room", I'm the leader trait to him.
There's the skill set, then there's the person.
Drafting is hard, trade back and take as many stabs as you can at this thing.
— Rick (@331TwistedWedge) April 16, 2023
While it’s easy to point fingers and assign blame, it’s important to remember that drafting players is an inherently risky proposition. Teams must weigh a variety of factors when evaluating potential prospects, and even the most promising players can fail if they don’t have the right mindset and approach to the game.
