Dein erstes Forum » quarterback Johnny Manziel

BEREA, Ohio - On one knee and far from the action, quarterback Johnny Manziel leaned on his orange helmet and watched. This is his new position. As Browns starter Brian Hoyer worked with Clevelands first-team offence during 11-on-11 drills Thursday, Manziel, for now relegated to the second string, observed from the side. He took mental notes as he waited for his turn. This rookie has been no sensation. Hes not ready to start. Meet Johnny Backup. Failing to make any magic happen in his first two NFL preseason games and unable to close the gap enough to beat out Hoyer, Manziel will begin the season as Clevelands No. 2 quarterback, matching his uniform number. Its not a major surprise given hes had to learn a complex offence and he entered training camp behind Hoyer. But Manziels inability to leap-frog Hoyer, a journeyman who has made four career starts and is coming off knee surgery, shows the jump from college to pros is gargantuan — even for Johnny Football. "Obviously I didnt want this to be the outcome," Manziel said. "But at the same time, I didnt necessarily feel I was ready, I felt like there were steps that I needed to take, and I need to take, to get better." Manziel has shown flashes, just not enough. Still, the Browns have seen promise in him, and Manziels immense fan base now has members inside Clevelands locker room. "We got arguably the best No. 2 in the NFL," said wide receiver Nate Burleson. "Im a Johnny Football fan. Not only was I a fan before he got here, but now hes family because we play for the same team. Ill always be in his corner." Manziel has improved in recent weeks. Hes got a much better grasp on offensive co-ordinator Kyle Shanahans playbook and its tongue-twisting verbiage; some plays contain 17 words. Hes made better decisions with the ball, and hes won over some skeptical teammates with a solid work ethic and humble attitude. Trouble is, Manziel may have damaged his chances to win the starting job before camp with his well-documented partying. The photos of Manziel chugging champagne while floating on an inflatable swan, talking into a phone made of money, and rolling a dollar bill in a bathroom brought him unwanted attention. The Browns were privately concerned about Manziels behaviour and warned him about it. He obliged, but had two recent missteps: being late for a team meeting and flipping his middle finger at the Redskins sideline Monday night on national TV. The gesture, relatively harmless compared to other things than go on during a game, may have reinforced the belief of coach Mike Pettine and his staff that Manziel wasnt prepared mentally or physically to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 7. Sitting and waiting is nothing new for Manziel. He was so far behind when he got to Texas A&M that the Aggies redshirted him as a freshman. It wasnt long, though, before he was the big man on campus and quickly the biggest name in college football, a one-man scrambling highlights machine. Manziel, who has completed 14 of 27 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown, said nothing has surprised him so far. "Its exactly what I thought it would be," he said. "I knew it would be a big step, a big learning process. If people would have seen me my first year at A&M they wouldve said no way this kid could get to where Im at today. People dont understand that my first year-and-a-half at A&M I was terrible. "I just continued to try and get better, learn the playbook, got more comfortable around everybody, around the coaches with the system, and then good things happened for me." Pettine said there wont be a "leash" on Hoyer, who will get an opportunity to take the job and run with it. But the Browns difficult early schedule — theyll host New Orleans and Baltimore after facing the Steelers — could make things interesting if theyre 0-3 or 1-2 at the bye week. Manziel isnt the first prominent rookie to take a back seat in Year 1. Hell find his path, and knowing Manziel, it wont be a straight one. "You dont have to come in from your first day of your rookie season and play right away," he said. "Theres no exact guideline to how this process works with young quarterbacks. For me, I need to continue to do what I need to do to get better as a football player, get smarter and learn more, control what I can control and everything will work out fine for me." NOTES: Pettine plans to play his starters most of the first half against St. Louis on Saturday. Pettine is also leaning toward his starters playing in the exhibition finale against Chicago. ... Pettine said WR Josh Gordons pending NFL suspension has weighed on the Pro Bowler. "He wants to get on with it and move forward," Pettine said. "Just being in limbo for so long, it can be draining." ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Mets Jerseys .C. -- Kevin Harvick won his first career pole at Darlington Raceway on Friday as he looks to chase his first Southern 500. Mets Jerseys 2020 . -- The Phoenix Coyotes have won three in a row for the first time in 4 1/2 months, and theyve done it just in time for the stretch run to the playoffs. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/ . Granada defender Diego Mainz barged into the back of Villa to send the Spain striker to the ground inside the area and Costa stepped up to the spot to score his 12th league goal in the 38th minute. Costa showed no effects of the news that his Brazilian citizenship may be revoked after he elected to play for Spains national team, as the forward was a constant threat for Atletico and forced several saves from goalkeeper Roberto. New York Mets Gear . Ramon, 30, played in a career-high 97 games with the Goldeyes in 2013. He also matched a career-high eight home runs and posted 52 RBI. New York Mets Store . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson.The 2014 NBA Draft will be a historic one for Canadian basketball, with as many as seven players from Canada - three of them as high as the first round - possibly selected. In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Tonight, Kansas star Andrew Wiggins of Vaughan, Ontario. Watch the 2014 NBA Draft on TSN, Thursday at 7pm et/4pm pt. Name: Andrew Wiggins From: Vaughan, Ontario Played: University of Kansas Height: 68 Weight: 200 Position: Small Forward 2013-2014 Stats: 17.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists Breakout Game: 41 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 blocks in loss to West Virginia on March 8. Accolades: Big 12 Player of the Year, Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big 12. Draft Projection: First-overall selection Comparable NBA player: Paul George Depending on how intensely you have been following Andrew Wigginss career, the 2014 NBA Draft is the culmination of years of anticipation. A projected #1 pick before declaring for the University of Kansas, the Toronto-area native has lived with an unwavering level of pomp and circumstance from a young age. Is the hype justified? There is no way, even if he was the second coming of Michael Jordan, that he could live to those expectations in this information age. The overwhelming attention pundits have heaped upon him has also led to unwavering analysis of his game over the last year. “Not aggressive enough, limitedd offensive moves, turns over the ball too much,” etc.dddddddddddd While certainly founded for a 19 year old, his case wasnt helped playing in a structured Kansas system with other weapons alongside another potential #1 pick in Joel Embiid. However, Wiggins has exhibited significant talent, flashes of greatness and tremendous potential with a style of play that will excel at the pro level. The age-old mantra in the NBA is, “You cant teach height,” but the game has shifted more to small ball where big men are not as key. The fact you cant teach athleticism or defence should be looked at, both of which Wiggins has in spades. Elements of his offensive game are raw, but will develop as his mechanics are fine. His build is light, but he will add mass and muscle and while hes explosive off his feet with excellent body control. Wigginss physical gifts are beyond reproach - his mental game is the burning question. His casual attitude or passivity on court is what raises doubts among talent evaluators. There are times where he isnt a part of the play and off in a corner as opposed to imposing his will on the game in other ways. Is it a case of boredom or coasting? Either way, that concern is what may separate him from being a top pick or a number two. Does he have the potential to be an elite player? That is the multi-million-dollar question that the Cleveland Cavaliers will be asking themselves on draft day. If youve followed Wiggins over the years, you likely already have your answer. ' ' '