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[h=2]Football[/h][h=1]Johnny Football craps out[/h][h=2]Looks like Browns finished with Vegas-loving QB[/h] By: Nate Ulrich
Posted: 01/18/2016 3:00 AM | Comments: 1
<figure class="inline photoswipe_slides">
<figcaption>CHARLIE RIEDEL / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Johnny Manziel's poor on-field production and daft off-field antics have sealed his fate in Cleveland.
</figcaption></figure>In the six radio interviews Jackson did last week, he made it clear he's focused on finding a bona fide franchise quarterback for the Browns and suggested the Manziel era will end this off-season.
"If there is a quarterback there at pick No. 2 or pick No. 32 (in this year's draft) that we feel is the best option, the best fit for our organization, our football team, then we need to go get him," Jackson said. "I do believe that this team does need a quarterback.
"Whether it was health issues or whatever it was last year, the position didn't play great. Josh McCown played great when he was healthy and did some really good things. But we also know that he's getting up there age-wise (36), but this guy's very competitive and done a great job.
"But I think what we need to do is look to the future and find what we think is going to be the best fit for us and go from there."
Manziel reportedly partied in Las Vegas the night of Jan. 2, three days after the Browns placed him in the NFL's concussion protocol. Then-owner Jimmy Haslam said Manziel failed to show up at team headquarters the morning of Jan. 3 for treatment the Browns require of players in the protocol. Manziel also didn't attend the regular-season finale the afternoon of Jan. 3 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Jackson was asked whether it would be a "non-starter" if Manziel fled to Vegas.
"Yes, it would be," he replied. "Any time things are not done the correct way with any player at any position would be a non-starter with me."
Anyone still questioning where Manziel stands with the Browns should consider this: Jackson was hired Wednesday, and he said he still hadn't talked to Manziel as of Sunday morning.
"I have not talked to Johnny yet," Jackson said. "But I'm going to do everything I can to evaluate him first and foremost just like I would any other player on our team, from our top player down to whoever the last player is on our roster to give everybody a fair opportunity.
"Now, there's criteria that we're going to look at to determine if the players really need to be here, or if they've earned the right to be here to be considered a Cleveland Brown."
Friday, Jackson told the team's radio show he had been in contact with several players. Manziel isn't among them.
Jackson also indicated Friday during an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he does not want to pair himself with Manziel.
"Outside of all of the physical characteristics that we look for in a quarterback, the thing I'm looking for is a guy that's going to be the face of the franchise, somebody our players can rally behind, somebody our fans can rally behind, that they believe that this guy has a chance to go out week in and week out and win games, a guy that can help elevate this football team, not anybody that's going to tear it down, because I think it's too hard in the National Football League to have a guy like that," Jackson said. "(The quarterback needs to be) all-consumed with one thing: being the best quarterback he can be and being the best leader he can be. That's the kind of guy I'm looking for."
-- Akron Beacon Journal
[h=2]Football[/h][h=1]Johnny Football craps out[/h][h=2]Looks like Browns finished with Vegas-loving QB[/h] By: Nate Ulrich
Posted: 01/18/2016 3:00 AM | Comments: 1
<figure class="inline photoswipe_slides">
<figcaption>CHARLIE RIEDEL / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILESJohnny Manziel's poor on-field production and daft off-field antics have sealed his fate in Cleveland.
</figcaption></figure>In the six radio interviews Jackson did last week, he made it clear he's focused on finding a bona fide franchise quarterback for the Browns and suggested the Manziel era will end this off-season.
'I do believe that this team does need a quarterback. Whether it was health issues or whatever it was last year, the position didn't play great'
-- Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson (right)
He emphasized those points further in a seventh interview Sunday with Ty Schalter and Jason Cole on SiriusXM's Bleacher Report Radio channel.-- Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson (right)
"If there is a quarterback there at pick No. 2 or pick No. 32 (in this year's draft) that we feel is the best option, the best fit for our organization, our football team, then we need to go get him," Jackson said. "I do believe that this team does need a quarterback.
"Whether it was health issues or whatever it was last year, the position didn't play great. Josh McCown played great when he was healthy and did some really good things. But we also know that he's getting up there age-wise (36), but this guy's very competitive and done a great job.
"But I think what we need to do is look to the future and find what we think is going to be the best fit for us and go from there."
'Any time things are not done the correct way with any player at any position would be a non-starter with me'
The previous regime drafted Manziel 22nd overall in 2014, but Jackson has given every indication he has no interest in dealing with the personal problems and off-field behaviour plaguing the former Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M University.Manziel reportedly partied in Las Vegas the night of Jan. 2, three days after the Browns placed him in the NFL's concussion protocol. Then-owner Jimmy Haslam said Manziel failed to show up at team headquarters the morning of Jan. 3 for treatment the Browns require of players in the protocol. Manziel also didn't attend the regular-season finale the afternoon of Jan. 3 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Jackson was asked whether it would be a "non-starter" if Manziel fled to Vegas.
"Yes, it would be," he replied. "Any time things are not done the correct way with any player at any position would be a non-starter with me."
Anyone still questioning where Manziel stands with the Browns should consider this: Jackson was hired Wednesday, and he said he still hadn't talked to Manziel as of Sunday morning.
"I have not talked to Johnny yet," Jackson said. "But I'm going to do everything I can to evaluate him first and foremost just like I would any other player on our team, from our top player down to whoever the last player is on our roster to give everybody a fair opportunity.
"Now, there's criteria that we're going to look at to determine if the players really need to be here, or if they've earned the right to be here to be considered a Cleveland Brown."
Friday, Jackson told the team's radio show he had been in contact with several players. Manziel isn't among them.
Jackson also indicated Friday during an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he does not want to pair himself with Manziel.
"Outside of all of the physical characteristics that we look for in a quarterback, the thing I'm looking for is a guy that's going to be the face of the franchise, somebody our players can rally behind, somebody our fans can rally behind, that they believe that this guy has a chance to go out week in and week out and win games, a guy that can help elevate this football team, not anybody that's going to tear it down, because I think it's too hard in the National Football League to have a guy like that," Jackson said. "(The quarterback needs to be) all-consumed with one thing: being the best quarterback he can be and being the best leader he can be. That's the kind of guy I'm looking for."
-- Akron Beacon Journal
