2015 Cleveland Browns Retrospective: Another Lost Season
By Joe Russo
Most Satisfying Moment: Manziel vs. The Titans
In his first start of the season for a concussed Josh McCown, Manziel wasn’t necessarily a world beater, throwing for only 172 yards on 8 of 15 passing with 2 touchdowns. But Manziel looked like the quarterback the Browns thought they were drafting two years ago. He made plays with his legs and connected with Travis Benjamin on what may be his best throw all year for a 60-yard touchdown on the second play of the game. It was a thing of beauty.
But that game, along with the loss in Pittsburgh where Manziel played admirably, may have been the highlight of Manziel’s career in Cleveland, which is sad given how early in the season it came and how it looks like Johnny Football will no longer be with the team. It’s such a shame that this moment was the most satisfying, as Manziel’s poor decisions would quickly snatch away those good feelings like the Grinch.
Most Frustrating Player: Johnny Manziel
Who else? Did you really think there was another Brown as infuriating as Manziel this season? Cam Erving was bad, Joe Haden was injured, and Tramon Williams was dreadful. But Manziel, with the most talent and potential of anyone on the roster, is head and shoulders above anyone else on this team for his buffoonery.
Johnny Manziel unlikely to play Week 17 due to concussion https://t.co/Gfs3mWYlCQ https://t.co/2zlLvFZr3Q
— Scott (@WFNYScott) December 30, 2015
There’s the bye-week binge. His Vegas trip before the last week of the season. The distrust built up in the locker room. There’s the unwillingness to just simply be a professional. Sure, I remember when I was 23. It was difficult to be 100 percent focused 100 percent of the time, let alone with a few million dollars in the bank. But Manziel was given an opportunity to succeed. He was given a chance to start once McCown went down, but it was his own poor choices that ultimately brought him down.
There’s been so much already written about Johnny, or Billy, Manziel, that it’s not worth repeating every detail. But Manziel’s time in Cleveland is over and at this point, good riddance.
Next: Most Exciting Player