A Look Back at 2014: Johnny Manziel's Final Interview

Johnny Football's Interview Showed Confidence, Maturity

Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel made two starts in the National Football League in 2014, and people already want to rip him apart. But don't just yet, because he still has a lot to prove.

by Ben Fontana

The biggest difference I found between living in upstate New York and living in Cleveland, is that the fans and media here in Northeast Ohio are so quick to judge anything someone says or does. But look all around the league. Did the Raiders give up on Derek Carr when they started the season 0-10? Did the Vikings give up on Teddy Bridgewater when they started 4-7? Absolutely not.

Carr has ended up throwing for over 3,000 yards and 20 TD, and Bridgewater has held his own in a tough NFC and might end up finishing 7-9. It's a sickness I've seen grow with Cleveland Browns fans, and perhaps the reason why Manziel was the 21st starting quarterback in as many years as there has been a conversation. The organization is addicted to change. But in order for there to be progress, that needs to stop.

The Browns have an opportunity to put their faith in a HEISMAN TROPHY WINNING QUARTERBACK. Honestly, it's not rocket science. Manziel has played about 7 quarters and has only been at the helm of the offense for 16 drives. Go ahead and count 'em. 2 against Buffalo, 10 vs. Cincinnati, and 4 against Carolina on Sunday. Do you really expect to judge his future solely based on 16 drives? Really?

I know Cleveland has been starved for a championship, but as Johnny said, he's learned every day.

And you shouldn't expect him to work miracles in year one. The expectations fans and media set for Johnny were beyond sky-high. The expectations Johnny set for himself, however, were different. And that's what should make him the future of this organization.

I've picked out some of my favorites from Manziel's interview today in the locker room in Berea. I was able to gather the sound for my station CBS Radio, 92.3 The Fan. You can find the audio I posted here.

Meanwhile - here are quotes and some quick thoughts:

also, play this game: DID JOHNNY SAY THESE IN THE LOCKER ROOM OR COMPLETELY WASTED PLAYING BEER PONG?

The greatest difference from the start of the season to now: "a guy who still had a little bit of college mindset, but that's faded now"

He's mentioned all year, he's matured. If you started him week one in Pittsburgh, he would still look completely different than he did week 16. He's so smart to say this, too. He's telling everyone, NEWSFLASH, I'm not just some kid out there on the field anymore. I know what I'm doing

"7 quarters ... I don't think that's enough to judge someone. If that's what they (the front office) think is enough to judge a quarterback, that's up to them"                                                                                                                                                              

The Browns have pulled the quick trigger on so many quarterbacks in the past decade, it's tough to keep track of. Johnny is seriously a different kind of talent. He's a playmaker. He'll adjust to the circumstances you throw him into. He'll evolve into the quarterback you want him to be.

"Nobody comes in this league, and I mean nobody comes in this league and just absolutely kills it. That's just not the way it works."

Pound that point into the ground all you want Johnny. Make 'em listen. It's so true. But yet, people have higher expectations. You're not going to hand a rookie the keys to a 7-6 team and expect him to win a Super Bowl for you. That's just not the way it works. 

On the money sign: "You know it's been a part of who I was at college, and it's ... (pauses)... I mean I see me growing up and maturing going forward"

This one made me think the most. Johnny was about to say something he was going to regret, but held himself back. A true pro. He'll do whatever he wants. If some older reporters are trying to coax him into saying 'I'm going to stop doing it,' Johnny's not going to give in. Bravo, kid.

"I'm not thinking about being an adult"

This is the one where it could be Johnny playing beer pong.

"You can't suck all the fun out of this game."

Also a Manziel beer pong quote, when someone called him for an elbow violation.

"I think there were times where I clouded my mind a little bit too much, and ultimately, I think that hurt me, I'm positive that hurt me."

You can tell that he's watched film, and learned from his game. The reason why Manziel succeeded so much vs. the Bills? No, it wasn't because Buffalo had substitutes in there (they were actually just rotation guys to the scheme). It was because he was just 'out there slingin' it.' You'll see more of gun-slinging Johnny in 2015.

"I'm not the guy I've always been ... This has been a year of growing up for me ... I have to take this a lot more seriously."

A classic nod to Blink-182. As much as he's fought it, he's a big boy now. And grown-ups have to work. Manziel has recognized that, and will come to work next year. Guys in the locker room see his maturity, too. I have a feeling there will be a lot more respect for Manziel in the near future.

And finally...

My gut tells me you'll see that jacket at the Manziel family Christmas dinner this year.

Week 11 Recap and Week 12 Preview

Largest Margin of Victory: Ebola Kills over Taco Corp - 64.2

Most Points Scored: AHHHHHHHHHH BREADED - 129.7

Least Points Scored: Taco Corp - 64.4

Unsung Hero of the Week: Antonio Brown 19.6

Biggest Fantasy Duds: Jimmy Graham, Steven Jackson

Best Waiver Pickups: Jordan Matthews (The DrewBee Brothers) - 19.2, Coby Fleener (The Heismanberg's) 17.9

Game's are really starting to matter now. The playoff picture is starting to come into place and the top teams are fighting tooth and nail for better seeding. Week 11 proved that.

In the match-up of the week, Shooter McGavin asserted his dominance of Mommy Slut's Slob On My Cobb. McGavin took advantage of the Cowboy's bye week, taking advantage of Cobb's loss of DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant. Andrew Luck, who is emerging as a young superstar in Slushie Sunday's, was once again McGavin's top scorer. But how will Nick fare with the potential loss of Manny Sanders? The same goes for Josh and Julius Thomas, who is questionable this week. Without a true back-up TE, Cobb will need to throw darts at the dartboard and hope for a TE that could potentially fill the big void left by Thomas. Even with the loss, Cobb still held on to 1st place in the AFC.

In the tighest game of the week, The DrewBree Brothers squeaked their way into the playoff picture with a close win over Kissing Suzy Kolber. The Brothers were saved by a clutch Monday Night performance from Antonio Brown, who gave Aaron and Drew a slick 19.6. Outside of Kolber's "Big Three," his team came up struggling. Had Vinnie started Doug Baldwin at his flex, Kolber would be sitting pretty with 7 wins. Even with the loss, teams should be scared of Vinnie's powerhouse offensive weapons. Rodgers, Forte, and Calvin Johnson will easily erupt at anytime, but the Brothers caught them on an 'off' week.

Team SSPD's spiral out of control continued in Week 11, suffering a 4 point loss to Team Next year. No brotherly love was shown by Chris this week, who found Jay Cutler on a good week, and once again took advantage of Jeremy Hill filling in Giovani Bernard. Quietly, Christian has become a threat in the league, winning his last four games, and rocketing up to 8-3, just two games back of Shooter McGavin in the NFC. The end of the year will be a good test for Chris after a shaky start to the season. As for Dom, Ahmad Bradshaw's injury on Sunday night was salt on the wound for Team SSPD. Had Bradshaw finished the game, Dom would have been right back in the playoff hunt, instead of being on the outside looking in.

No one expected such a stinker in the showdown of the out-of-towners, but The Nard Dawgs and The Heismanberg's combined for a lowly 145.5 points, with The Berg's edging The Dawg's by just 3 points. Will was supported by big games by his running backs, but a last minute switch of his flex and an injury to Dwayne Allen ultimately doomed The Dawg's. Brandon Marshall could make Will a contender, and potential spoiler in the last two weeks. But with the Gio Bernard and Jordan Cameron injuries still make the water's murky for Mr. Gavin. The Berg's were saved by a clutch Sunday night performance from Coby Fleener, who capitalized on Allen's injury. While The Big Forehead Peyton Manning gave Ben his lowest output of the season, a victory was still managed. With no running game, Ben will have to rely on Manning and D. Thomas to carry his team if he hopes to hold on to his playoff spot.

AHHHHHHH BREADED (name change alert) was once again keen on his match-ups, and despite having a QB issue still in Week 11, Joe beat the Sch'dy Schmeckles handily by nearly 50. Le'Veon continues to put the team on his back, carrying Joe with 30, and with the return of A.J. Green after a toe injury, BREADED is another team that needs to be feared around the league. With Sammy Watkins sitting in the wings, and Matthew Stafford still apt to break out against a week opponent, Joe is built for the long run. Another disappointing week for the Schmeckles, who are now officially eliminated from playoff contention. The lack of support from Chris's pass catchers was his ultimate downfall in Week 11. On the bright side, Chris has a schedule that could play spoiler for two teams down the stretch.

Along with Team Next year, Ebola Kills also holds a four game win streak, extended in Week 11 with the biggest blowout of the week over Taco Corp. Dave's run game failed him once again, with only his duo of Seahawks reaching double figures for his skill positions. Jamaal Charles continued to be the workhorse for Brian, and Kills' Kelvin Benjamin continued to look like one of the more consistent rookie pass catchers of the season in the NFL. Brian has a seriously dangerous team, but he'll need his Falcons trio to be admirable in the last few weeks of the season to make him a threat in the playoffs.

WEEK 12 PREVIEW

AHHHHHHHH BREADED (6-5) vs. Shooter McGavin (10-1)

Without a doubt, the game of the week, Nicky looks to stretch his winning streak to seven games, while Joe looks to climb the the seeding and possibly jump Josh in the AFC, chasing first place. Nick already caught a tough break with Jordan Reed being ruled out, so McGavin's tight end struggles continue. Will Travis Kelce's early 8.7 be enough? Will it even matter with Andrew Luck facing a week Jacksonville team at home? For BREADED, Joe will have to bank on Matthew Stafford and the Lions being in a shootout with Tom Brady and crew. God knows Joe cannot have the 5.3-point performance Stafford had last week if he wants to win. Watch for this one to come down to how Sammy Watkins performs Monday night in Detroit versus a re-vitalized Jets secondary.

Slob On My Cobb (7-4) vs. Team Next Year (8-3)

A potential Final Four preview, this match-up pits the league's #2 and #3 seeds against each other. The most intriguing storyline this week for Chris is the return of Josh Gordon, sliding right into Chris's DM's  WR2 spot ahead of Golden Tate and placing the lackluster Jennings/Williams duo on the bench. Gordon will have to perform like a fantasy God if Chris wants to upset Josh. Despite an off week against McGavin in Week 11, Cobb gets back DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant this week against a week Giants defense. This could be the week Cobb really breaks out. The x-factor (aside from Gordon's return) will be how Tom Brady fares against a top-rated Lions secondary. Josh needs his QB he acquired from Chris earlier this season to work out, especially against his former team. Seems like that trade worked out for both sides.  Julius Thomas's potential absence should also be worth watching out for.

Team SSPD (4-7) vs. Kissing Suzy Kolber (6-5)

Dom needs a win like the Cookie Monster needs cookies. Currently the #9 seed in the league, Dom will need all the help he can get from his young weapons. If Jonas Gray and Mike Evans repeat their 40-point performances from a week ago, Team SSPD will be right in this one with Kolber. If not, watch for Vinnie's juggernaut steamroll Dom further into irrelevancy. Rodgers and Forte both have favorable match-ups this week for Kissing Suzy Kolber. Expect a high-scoring game for both sides. This game has the most riding on it in terms of playoff seeding and movement. Others will be watching.

The Heismanberg's (5-6) vs. Ebola Kills (7-4)

Ebola Kills is without a doubt one of the hottest teams in the league, but once again Brian will be relying on his Falcons to do work against the upstart Cleveland Browns. With Ben Roethlisberger AND Kelvin Benjamin on their bye week, Brian will have to look elsewhere for player's to put up big show-stopping performances. Jamaal Charles put up 20.2 on Thursday, slightly below his projected this week, but it most likely won't hurt Kills. Watch Rob Gronkowski be this week's x-factor for Brian. The Berg's are in as much need of a win as some other's in the league, currently in the #7 spot in the league. Ben will need another big week from Peyton Manning and Demaryius Thomas to keep him ahead of Brian's Falcons' trio. The Berg's slick waiver strategy has also loaned him two starting RBs for this week. Watch out for Anderson and Crowell to be Ben's x-factor's for the week. 

The DrewBree Brothers (5-6) vs. The Nard Dawgs (3-8)

In hopes of holding off Dom for the 8th seed in the playoffs, Aaron runs into a struggling Nard Dawgs team. With Jordan Cameron and Gio Bernard both bringing down Will's squad, the Dawgs need the the Kaepernack to outperform Drew Brees in a head-to-head that could be telling in this match-up. While Will's line-up looks patchwork, it matches up nicely with the Brothers line-up this week. No Antonio Brown or Markus Wheaton for Aaron and Drew, which will be a challenge for the Brothers in terms of setting a line-up. Newly acquired Jordan Matthews will have to perform against Will's beloved Titans in order for Aaron and Drew to win this one and hold on to the 8th seed in the league.

Taco Corp (3-8) vs. Sch'dy Schmeckles (2-9)

Both Corp and the Schmeckles started with promising rosters at the start of the season, but both teams have underperformed and run into the wrong teams at the wrong times. Dave has his fingers crossed this week that the Seahawks can get their shit together against the best team in the league in Arizona. If Wilson/Lynch put up an egg, Taco Corp hopes to rely on Denard Robinson, who has been running wild lately in Jacksonville. As for Chris, he's managed to squeeze out two wins from a roster that looks good on paper, but is inconsistent week to week. With no Martavis Bryant this week, the Schmeckles could have to rely on a deep bench of WRs, which won't hurt Chris's lineup. Both teams are just looking for a win to make their seasons respectable at this point.

Why It Should Happen: Cavs Trade Wiggins for Love

Cupcakes For Everyone!

LeBron Needs Some Love

There shouldn't be any hesitation. If the Cavaliers want to win now, in the prime of LeBron James' career, the time to move is now.

Think about it this way. Say LeBron made his decision before the draft. In a perfect world, we'd all have been saved hours and days of waiting. But in that case, wouldn't you trade the #1 pick for Kevin Love in a heartbeat? For Dan Gilbert and co., it would happen at the drop of a hat. No questions asked, no hesitation. Okay one more cliche ... it would have been a no-brainer!

So why the hesitation now? At his best, Wiggins will be a Scottie Pippen type. Great defender, decent shooter. I don't think he'll be a superstar. I think his full potential comes in 5 years. By that time, LeBron will be 35. Wiggins is 19 now. It is going to take some time. But Cleveland can not afford to wait. It is a city that has waited 49 years for a championship.

You pull the trigger, and you pull it now. Minnesota is in la-la land thinking it's going to make the playoffs this year. In that Western Conference? Good luck. Love is going to leave after this season anyway, so why not rebuild now? Face the facts, Flip. Great young talent in Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins can make for a formidable future. Trying to get David Lee and Klay Thompson from Golden State could make Minnesota a win-now team, but Cleveland needs Love more. And they need to get him now.

LeBron could head to nine straight finals if Cleveland lands Kevin Love. These two already know each other from playing on Team USA and bringing home gold for the stars and stripes. The chemistry is there. The Cavs are in need of a threatening big man anyway. All Anderson Varejao does is provide chemistry, and Tristan Thompson could use a year to develop his scoring. Love can provide 20 rebounds on any given night, most likely average 20 and 12, and most importantly, he spaces the floor.

In a dream scenario, the Cavs give up Wiggins and some picks. That leaves Dion Waiters at the two-guard spot. A guy who's already been in the league for two years and LeBron can work with (see Norris Cole). You have Mike Miler, James Jones, and a slimmed-down Anthony Bennet off the bench. There's really nothing wrong in this picture.

"Hurry Up With My Damn Croissants"

PG: Kyrie ... SG: Dion ... SF: LeBron ... PF/C: Thompson ... PF/C: Love

Dream of championships with that 3-point shooting off the bench. It's a wonderful thing. If you have to trade Anthony Bennet, so be it. Even Thompson. Love at the PF and Anderson Varejao holding things down at C still is a line-up that could win the Eastern Conference.

LeBron James is why this deal is about to happen, and should happen. The greatest player in the world played alongside Love on Team USA and loves the chemistry. Like Chris Bosh spaced the floor, Love will space the floor. But with a catch. Love can actually rebound. He was a 26-and-12 guy in Minnesota. And you can expect that in Cleveland if LeBron has a bad night.

Team USA head man Mike Krzyzewski is on my side. His take on the deal is the most logical I've heard so far:

"There's absolutely not one second of hesitancy. I'd trade for Kevin Love ... That's not saying anything bad about any of the other youngsters. Love's an All-Star and he's a double-double guy. But he's a double-double guy who can spread the court."

Like, duh. That's totally what I'm saying, Coach K:

"You look at LeBron and you have the best player in the world. He’s 29. I’m not saying he’s at the end of his career, but he’s in the second half of his career, let’s put it that way ... If Wiggins or Bennett are going to be great, it’s not going to happen right now. They’re great talents. LeBron is a great player right now. You do not want to waste any year of a great player’s career. Love is close to being that. He's not as great a player as LeBron but he's there. You know who Love is right now. They're always developing but he's a consistent outstanding player." 

My feel is that some pundits think Kevin Love is a savvy NBA vet, and that's because it feels like he is. But he's only 25. An all-star who is just at the beginning of the "prime" of his career. And like Coach K said, LeBron is in the middle of it. But the guys know each other, and both want to win now. Love hasn't even tasted the playoffs in his career. But once he gets there, surrounded by talent, the sky is the limit.

Last season, Kevin Love was a top-5 player in the league in PER (Player Efficiency Rating). Granted, on a not-so-good team. But it's the best measure of an individual in such a situation.

Cleveland also offers the best package for Minnesota. Again, it's a young team. The T'Wolves can build with a talent like Zach LaVine, who's shown he can dazzle. And say they get everything they want in the trade (Wiggins AND Bennet), Minnesota can also claim it has the last two number one picks on its roster. A young core with a good head coach like Flip Saunders? It could totally work. And the package is far better for the future than what a team like the Bulls are offering.

My best guess is that Chicago isn't a real threat to Cleveland and Minnesota pulling the trigger on the trade. An educated guess on my part is that the rumor was a leak, by the Timberwolves, to push the trade along and get what they want. And another guess, in regards to a report that the Cavs want to sign Wiggins to his rookie contract sometime this week, that won't happen. The deal is going to happen sooner rather than later. Cleveland doesn't want to wait 30 days. The Cavs want Kevin Love in training camp with David Blatt.

Love won't be happy in Minnesota. And regardless of what happens in the upcoming 2014-2015 season, Love is going to walk out on the organization and become a free agent next offseason. Minnesota needs to get something in return now if there is any common sense brewing the that front office.

With the big three of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Andrew Wiggins, the Cavaliers might be a top-3 team in the Eastern Conference. With James, Irving, and Kevin Love, the Cavs are bar none the best team in the conference.

Make the deal, Cleveland. All you need is Love.

Article written by Ben Fontana. These views are my own. It is meant for me to vent and/or inject humor into everyday sports topics. Feel free to contact me at benjamin.j.fontana@gmail.com with further inquiries. 

The Day Social Media Stood Still: The Decision 2.0

Whether you're a fan or not, you were watching.  Even if it didn't affect your team, you were constantly refreshing twitter and other news outlets. Even if you don't care for the NBA, you were entrenched in the madness that was Lebron's latest and greatest decision.  For weeks, we've heard speculation from anyone and everyone about where King James could potentially land this offseason.  It was simply one of those moments that you will never forget where you were when you first heard the news.  Usually, this is reserved for negative events and tragedies but today, many basketball fans can rejoice that Lebron James has decided to return to his native state of Ohio to bring back a championship to the city of Cleveland.

This time around, Lebron strategically planned how he was going to announce to the entire country where he was going to play basketball next season.  Unexpectedly, he went to the most trusted source in sports, ESPN Sports Illustrated a week earlier to personally pen a short essay about the biggest free agency decision since he bolted for Miami in 2010. These last few weeks have been strenuous on any basketball fan and anyone that watches Sportscenter on a daily basis.  James' name seemed to work his way into nearly every highlight causing fans to become agitated with the constant media attention. Makes you kinda miss the Decision, rather than anxiously waiting to hear what the superstar will choose. Rumors swirled around social media in the approaching weeks, ranging  from inside sources from cupcake companies, phantom "sources" from Chris Broussard or speculation of what the moving trucks outside Lebron's house meant.  Regardless of your basketball viewing tendencies, either die-hard or casual fan, you were immersed in all the Lebron hysteria for these past few weeks.

Link to Lebron's Essay, if you haven't read it yet I highly recommend:

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/07/11/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers

As for the letter, it was carefully written with Lee Jenkins, senior writer at SI who allowed Lebron to tell his story in his own words rather than let the media and society tell it for him. Also, the complete undermining of ESPN was also well-received by all sports fans as Lebron opted to use the resources of Sports Illustrated to fly under the radar and casually unleash his essay upon the masses at 12:30 PM on Friday. Personally, I was not expecting anything like this. I was anticipating a media onslaught that usually ensues when something is leaked to ESPN but with the ball in SI's court, they executed flawlessly and subtly without shoving the information in your face until you've heard enough.

Why It Matters: The MLB All-Star Game

• It decides home field advantage in the World Series.
• It's Derek Jeter's last
• You probably get to see Clayton Kershaw strike out six guys in a row
• No one is on steroids any more (can't prove this one)

The Case For: Johnny Manziel

Juany Fútbol

Why Are You Mad At Jonny Manziel?

Hint: You Shouldn't Be

I'm sick and tired of people getting mad at Johnny Manziel. Seriously, stop it. He is a 21-year-old kid who hasn't even thrown a pass yet in the NFL. Why are you judging him? Because he's acting like a 21-year-old kid? Please.

Hate to break it to you, but this is the way things are going to be for a while. Manziel is the kind of young athlete that defines the generation. People like to party. People like to post said party on social media. That's just the way things work. Basically, he is acting like every other kid. The difference: he's just really good at football.

Just watch the highlights. Manziel is electrifying. His style of play is organized chaos. It's an unorthodox method that has defensive coordinators spinning. The Cleveland Browns will undoubtedly have their hands full taming Manziel into an 'NFL' quarterback. But they need not worry. Johnny will get things done the same way he has in the past. Ignores the criticism, acts wild, outperforms all competition in the end.

Manziel's off-field life and on-field life have striking similarities ... but don't mistake the two for the same. He's free. He's wild. He's off-the-wall fun to watch.

The difference is Johnny doesn't go back and watch film on how he held the stack of money in his hand. He doesn't analyze the bar tab from the club. He has his fun, and focuses on his job. Isn't that the Browns are paying him to do anyway?

If I was in Manziel's shoes, I would act the exact same way. If you wouldn't do the same, I'd laugh. The opportunity to go to big games and meet big celebrities? Sign me up. Again, he's 21-years-old. This is the opportunity of a life-time for him. These actors, rappers, and celebs want to hang out with Johnny. And Johnny wants to hang out with them. So what? It would be a crime against humanity if Manziel didn't meet these people and take full advantage of his stardom.

So he gets a few pictures and videos taken of him every once in a while. So he signed a few autographs for people and accidentally took some money. So what? People make mistakes. I made mistakes when I was 21. But I learned from the mistake, and am better for the experience.

Johnny Manziel is the epitome of nonchalant. Despite being picked 22nd overall in the NFL Draft (lower than expected), he still has a positive attitude. Like when his offensive line breaks down, he scrambles and makes it work. Drafted to Cleveland? Wreck this league. The kid's got a plan. And if that isn't a sign of maturity, I don't know what is.

"I'm not going to change who I am for anybody ... I'm growing up and continuing to learn from my mistakes and trying not to make the same ones over and over again, but am I going to live in a shell or am I just going to hide from everybody and not do anything? I don't think that's the way I should live my life and I'm not going to do it.

"I'm here, I'm very committed to football. I'm committed to my job, but on the weekends, I'm going to enjoy my time off. We deserve it. We work hard here... I am going to enjoy my time off. I'm very about football and very about my job, which doesn't get reported or won't get reported, but I am going to enjoy my time off. That's I think what everybody else does and that's what I should do.''

Manziel doesn't need to be careful. He said himself that what he doesn't want to change who he is. For anybody. He knows what he is doing, and that is all that matters. It's the attitude that more young players should have in the NFL. As long as you are smart about what you do, and it doesn't effect what you do for a living, there is no room for judgement. It's a free country, Johnny.

What Should Cleveland Expect?

Maybe a circus. But more than likely, a lot of wins. Manziel won with talent at Texas A&M. He never made it to the National Championship Game, but he found success. Playing behind a great OL in Jake Matthews and throwing to a talented WR in Mike Evans made his life on the field easier. Now that he has NFL ready and proven talent? Watch out. Even if Josh Gordon doesn't make it to the regular season for the Browns with his recent run-ins with the law, Manziel still has a top-tier pass catcher in Jordan Cameron, and plenty of other talent to build around.

It's not too bold to say Manziel starts for the Browns. Brian Hoyer is a great NFL quarterback, but he isn't Johnny Manziel. With Hoyer, there is stability for first-year head coach Mike Pettine. A proven talent. But with Manziel, the upside is far greater. He is the new wave NFL QB that likens to Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick. Have the Seahawks been successful? Yes (see Bowl, Super). Have the 49ers been successful? Yes (a few plays away from winning three straight NFC Championships). These types of offenses work. Hoyer, in theory, could work well with new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. But Manziel would work better.

Forget his off-field "antics" for a minute and remember what kind of magic he can pull out of his hat on the field. And that's against Alabama. Or against LSU. Or Oklahoma. He's proven his talents in college against the best of the best. So why not the NFL? The prediction of a Week One start and win against the Steelers isn't crazy. It's not far fetched. As long as Manziel gets the nod from Mike Pettine and impresses like he should in training camp and during the pre-season, it can happen. The Browns can secure a playoff berth in Year One with Johnny. Like Manziel said himself, he's "very committed to football," and chances are you won't see too many party pictures surface once the NFL season gets underway.

Manziel Should Provide Fireworks In Cleveland

Johnny Football is an honest kid with amazing talent who is just like the rest of us. He is living in the moment. Nothing more, nothing less. The criticism needs to stop. The constant "What Will He Do Next" articles need to stop. Why should you care? Or a better question ... Do you care at all? Browns fans could care less what he does on the weekends, as long as wins pile up in Cleveland. Maybe he won't be the MVP. But what he can do is excite a fanbase that has been looking for a star within the organization for years. He's arrived. And his name is Johnny Manziel.

Article written by Ben Fontana. These views are my own. It is meant for me to vent and/or inject humor into everyday sports topics. Feel free to contact me at benjamin.j.fontana@gmail.com with further inquiries.

"The Wind Is Blowing": What To Make Of The Rumors

Lord Of The Rings: Return of the King

LeBron Back to Cleveland?

It seems to be more and more of a possibility...

These convos aren't sourced enough 4 me to report as fact. But I've heard enough to believe "the wind is blowing" LJ back home. We'll see...
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 7, 2014

Do we trust Chris Broussard? He's been wrong in the past... he's been right in the past. But Brian Windhorst looked like a nervous wreck last night on SportsCenter when they asked him about the "news." Windhorst couldn't confirm or deny, but he did say that LeBron is meeting with Pat Riley in the coming days to discuss his future.

Breaking up in person? Sounds like LeBron's learned his lesson.

So it begs the question: "What's the deal here?" To me, it sounds like a bunch of hearsay. But, it also sounds like there is some truth to it. LeBron's agent is Rich Paul, a childhood friend. Now, Paul is a puppeteer with LeBron on the strings. Paul's the one busy meeting with all these teams while LeBron celebrates the 4th of July with his family and does other important stuff that a good dad and husband should do.

HOT TAKE

It's Not Too Late. It's Never Too Late.

I'd love to see LeBron go back to Cleveland. Images on the local news of Cavalier fans stitching up their old #23 James jersey's. Pulling the ashes out of the fire. The prodigal son returns home. It's a story that sports journalists dream about. It wasn't a "wrong" in the first place, but if the greatest player in the world "Rights His Wrong," then what do the doubters and LeBron-haters have to say now?

Chances are if James returns to the Cavaliers, it is going to be a project. He would have to work harder than ever before with a young roster. Kyrie Irving: All-Star. Andrew Wiggins: Needs A Mentor. LeBron has a great opportunity here, but if he wants to go back to the Finals again and have all his friends back (see Bosh, Chirs ... Wade, Dwayne), then Miami is his best shot.

For the last four years, LeBron has taken the Heat to NBA Finals. That is a magnificent feat. This season, he played on one of the oldest rosters in the league. And for a guy in the prime of his career to single-handedly guide Miami to the pinnacle series the league has to offer ... well as a fan of the game you can't help but smile.

LeBron to Cleveland, Bosh to Houston, Carmelo to L.A. Crazy right? That's the dream for all these sports junkies on twitter out there. It opens up an entire new landscape in the NBA. It also opens up another avenue for these players to be criticized.

LeBron to Miami, Bosh to Miami, Carmelo to N.Y. Nothing would change, everyone gets what they want. The only problem in this scenario is that Bosh doesn't get the max money he think he deserves. Everyone else does. 'Melo gets a chance with P-Jax in the Big Apple, LBJ probably takes the Heat to six straight Finals. But Bosh is the guy probably holding everything up here. That's why these "winds" that are supposedly "blowing" can't be taken too seriously at the moment.

I think LeBron can win wherever he goes. Cleveland makes him happiest. He goes back to his hometown, all the fans are happy, people smile. He's got a project, but he can handle it. But choosing Dan Gilbert over Pat Riley? Doesn't taste right on the tongue. Ultimately, it's the King's decision to make. So while he sits on his throne, all we can do is talk about it. Gosh, NBA free agency is fun.

Article written by Ben Fontana. These views are my own. It is meant for me to vent and inject humor into everyday sports topics. Feel free to contact me at benjamin.j.fontana@gmail.com with further inquiries.

MLB Weekend Recap: A's Reel in The Shark; Puig & Trout Continue to Impress

Samardzija stifled the Jays to complete a 4-game sweep

Late Friday night, the Athletics sent shockwaves throughout the league when they received the two top of the line starters from the Cubs in Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel in exchange for a pair of top tier prospects. 

For a majority of the season, Chicago had shopped each pitcher to various teams but finally struck a deal this weekend. Samardzija, seeking a hefty raise, commanded an extremely high price tag from his suitors due to the small market for high-level starters at this year's trade deadline.  After dealing with a rash of injuries, Oakland jumped on the opportunity to improve their rotation tenfold.  Marred with injuries for the beginning of the year, the A's needed to support the efforts of Sonny Gray, Jesse Chavez and recently named All-Star Scott Kazmir.  Both Hammel and Samardzija had felt the effects of a Cubs offense that had been essentially anemic this entire season, both toting ERA's under 3.00 while combining for a record of 10-12.  Now, each starter can reap the benefits of playing for the highest scoring offense in the MLB.

Even if the A's are simply renting out the pitchers for the stretch run and the postseason, this move makes the Athletics the clear favorite in the AL, if they weren't already.  Toting the best team ERA in the American League, Samardzija and Hammel round out a playoff rotation that could potential feature 4 former opening day starters.  Sonny Gray has struggled in recent weeks but his torrid start to the season should reserve any doubt that he will bounce back to his early successes in 2014.  The thing that stands out most is the urgency from Billy Beane to enter "win now" mode although they were arguably the most complete team in the league.  If there was ever a year to go all-in on a playoff season for the A's, it is certainly.  The master of Moneyball isn't one for selling his beloved farm system for large trade targets, rather than resurrecting careers for players who had appeared to have seen their better days (i.e. Coco Crisp, Scott Kazmir). Beane, a tenured GM that has witnessed his fair share of winning in his days at Oakland must have mulled this decision over an infinite amount of times in the upcoming hours before the trade.

I say this because of the haul he was forced to part with in order to land these two. Making their way to Chicago was the last two first round picks for the A's organization, which included the #3 prospect in the MLB according to Keith Law, in Addison Russell. Russell, a promising shortstop was the centerpiece of the deal for the Cubbies.  Already possessing 3 of the top 15 prospects this year (Baseball America), Chicago was once again able to stockpile assets for their rebuilding process. Samardzija and Hammel were both free agents after this year anyways, so how could Theo Epstein possibly say no? If they're this high on "Shark" still, they could ultimately sign him to his desired extension if Oakland opts to only keep him for the remainder of the season.  The team may not look "sexy" on paper right now but the Cubs are assembling a formidable core of young players who continue to show improvements.  The biggest surprise is Jake Arrieta, who was packaged along with Pedro Strop last season from the Orioles and has flourished into one of the most dominant pitchers in the past few months. Showing signs of his effectiveness last season, he has become the hottest pitcher in the league now named Kershaw and Wainwright.  He will now be vaulted into the ace role of a Cubs team that saw their playoff aspirations fly out the window weeks before.  However, the loss of Samardzija allows Chicago to retain a top of the line starter for a much cheaper price tag and can use their assets and large payroll to build around him.

Back to the A's, they concluded this weekend with Samardzija's debut start in the A.L. and Oakland was thoroughly pleased as he held the high powered Blue Jays offense to only one run over 7 innings, picking up the win.  For Oakland, they improved to an astounding 22 games over .500 with the ASB break looming and have solidified their spot atop Nick Caputo's unofficial MLB power rankings for this week. Similar to Jaws in the town of Amity, this Shark has taken over the town of Oakland and the future looks bright for the A's.

Free Agency Thoughts: 2 Days of Madness and It's Just Getting Started

Say what you want about the NFL being the most popular sport in-season, nothing beats the NBA's combination of draft and free agency. When the clock struck midnight on July 1st a few days early, a proverbial sensation of a bomb going off struck the entire league and social media.  Ahh, social media, what would we do without you?  Within minutes of the official commencement of free agency, basketball insiders, writers and junkies unleashed a swarm of rumors, meetings and trade scenarios that continue to flood the twittersphere 3 days in.  I'm not one to buy into too much speculation but you can't tell me you're not vigorously following every move that Lebron and Carmelo make during these upcoming weeks, regardless of your team or personal opinion on each player.  

The benefit on a "star-driven" league is the emphasis for constant update to quench the thirst for what happens to our favorite players and the fans simply absorb as much as they can.  Social media, specifically Twitter was simply made for an event like the NBA Free Agency period.  Up to the minute reports and rumors flying past your head in seconds as one minute Lebron could be a lock to return to the Heat and 13 minutes later, we could be reading a report of how he'd coexist with Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas.  It's truly fascinating and I simply can't get enough.  I know alot of you feel the same.  Guys like Chris Broussard, Adrian Wojnarowski and David Aldridge gear up all year for this short period of time in July.  In a matter of minutes, teams can emerge as frontrunners for the league's biggest superstar and fall out of running just as quick.  Although a "major" deal has not been made yet, there are several signings and developments that have caught my eye in the first few days.

Kyle Lowry Re-Signs on the "Cheap"

Show me the Money: Lowry takes talents back to Toronto

Arguably the biggest move that has been made so far is last night's re-signing of guard Kyle Lowry by the Toronto Raptors. Immediately following his departure from the playoffs (Nets), Lowry quickly became the most hotly contested free agent point guard available this year. Early reports, even before the draft had linked Lowry to Miami assuming that the Heat would be able to dangle enough cap room, in addition to the return of the Big Three in front of his face in order to run the show for the "Heatles".  Even after the Heat traded up to draft Shabazz "The Bazz" Napier, reports still continued to fly in that Lowry was the top target for Miami.  After meeting with Pat Riley and his former team, the Raptors, Lowry announced that his decision would come in the next few days.  As promised, the guard announced via Instagram that he had officially inked a 4-year deal for 48 million to remain with the young Raptors team that he led to the playoffs last year.

I put cheap in quotation marks due to the discount that Lowry seemingly gave Toronto when seeking a new deal. After watching his postseason performances and a breakout season, it was sure that Lowry could command a max contract due to him being the best guard on the market.  Rather than squeeze out every cent from the front office, Lowry signed a very do-able 48 million dollar deal that has to make the Heat cringe right now. With Lowry's return, the Raptors seem to remain the favorite in the Atlantic Division and can look to rebuild on their overall breakout season that was, ironically, a blocked Lowry layup away from making the second round for the first time in over a decade.

Bradley Re-Ups with Celtics; Rondo's Future Blurry

Kyle Lowry may be the biggest point guard to make a decision in free agency this offseason, he might not be the biggest name switching teams. If Rajon Rondo thought the news about Marcus Smart was promising for Boston's backcourt, then the news about Avery Bradley must have left him befuddled.

Boston's all-star point guard may have actually played his last game in a C's uniform as they dished out nearly 8 million a year to backcourt mate Avery Bradley yesterday.  Rumors had swirled about Rondo's potential trade possibilities for months now so it's nothing that he hasn't heard before.  However, now he knows that there might be a sense of urgency from the Celtics front office to ship the guard somewhere else.  Recently asking for a 100-million dollar extension recently to stay in Beantown, Rondo has continually expressed his desire to remain a Celtic, but with a crowded backcourt being assembled (draft pick of James Young) it may be an opportune time for Boston to swap him for more prized assets.

This isn't a sure thing that Rondo is dealt, but the signing certainly doesn't hurt his chances.  Perhaps they keep Rondo for another year and swap him before he hits free-agency next season.  It wouldn't hurt to groom Marcus Smart under the wing of Rondo before he departs and with Bradley's health concerns, nothing is secure for the Celtics. Look for constant speculation about Rondo in the upcoming weeks, especially the development of Isaiah Thomas' free agency situation, since his departure could create a glaring need for a point guard on an up-and-coming Sacramento team.

As for Bradley, this is an excellent signing for Danny Ainge and the Celtics to anchor their backcourt, with Rondo or not. Averaging nearly 15 points per game last season, Boston knew that they needed to keep Bradley anyway possible, as he's one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Even with the injury issues, the Celtics had listed Bradley as their main priority this offseason. Strapped for cap space, Boston may have tossed Bradley a little more than they would have liked but now they can move forward to address Rondo's situation.  

The Courting of Carmelo

Teams have begun the quest for Carmelo in the past few days, starting in Chicago. The Bulls rolled out the red carpet for the free-agent power forward as he was greeted with large banners and bus advertisements with Melo in a Bulls uniform surrounded by Larry O'Brien trophies.  It didn't stop there of course, as Joakim Noah met with Carmelo to lobby for another superstar for the Windy City.  Absent from the courting process, Derrick Rose firmly stated he would not recruit Carmelo to come to the Bulls. Instead, he figured a visual demonstration would serve better, as Rose held a personal workout/showcase to show Melo that he was in fact "healthy" once again.  A nice touch from D-Rose and the Bulls since his health could ultimately turn Chicago into an immediate title contender id Melo does happen to land in Chicago.

Personally, I've felt that Chicago has been the right fit for the Bulls for months now and wouldn't be surprised if this is where he winds up.  This is going to be an extremely strenuous for all parties involved, which is why team's are stopping at nothing to "woo" Carmelo (Tried to find a clip of Charlie from Always Sunny saying "wooed" to no avail). Anyways, the Bulls team would compliment The Melo Show the best based on the dominant center in Noah and an elite level point guard.  Neither of which Melo has ever had (besides Iverson's brief stint in Denver).

Next, Melo pulled the Texas two-step and met with Houston and Dallas yesterday and the Rockets wasted no time in using photoshop to help Melo visualize how he'd look in red and yellow.  Not without controversy, Houston used Jeremy Lin's number 7 jersey for the Melo pictures, a subtle slap in the face to Linsanity, who also may be dealt, potentially in a sign & trade back to the Knicks if Melo comes to H-Town.  Regardless, with Melo's face plastered all around the Toyota Center, Houston looks to build a super-team with Dwight Howard and James Harden that would also vault the Rockets to title contender in a matter of a pen stroke by one, Carmelo Anthony.  Houston has casually been shopping Chandler Parsons to potential suitors to clear space for Melo's possible arrival and could make a huge splash if he is actually dealt.

To conclude the Texas tour, Melo arrived in Dallas to sitdown with Mark Cuban for a traditional approach with a casual business meeting to discuss basketball.  Cuban, the savvy businessman didn't need an elaborate Shark Tank pitch to sell Melo, rather using a bare bones conversation about winning and the ability to sign other assets to compliment himself and Dirk.  Dallas has seemed to be court every huge free agent hopeful since Lebron's 2010 campaign and has struck out on all their attempts (Dwight Howard, Lebron, Deron Williams).  If this pitch finally goes the right way for Dallas, it would vault another team to a legitimate contender role in the Western Conference, as if they needed another. According to sources, Chicago's pitch was significantly longer than the other two.  Not saying that means anything at all but just something to mull over.

About Last Night: Storylines from the NBA Draft

As the draft has yet again come and gone, there are several hot button topics to be discussed until the Free Agency clock strikes midnight next week and all hell breaks loose. For now, here's an assessment of how I felt once the draft concluded and what I took away most from it, not in any particular order.
1. Lebron's Influence on the Heat 

One of the bigger trades of the night occurred late in the first round last night as the Hornets drafted UConn guard Shabazz Napier at the 24th pick.  Many Heat fans were left disgruntled as they let the guard slip away without attempting to trade up.  By now, it was apparent that Miami had been targeting Napier and Lebron was all for it as well.  Very high praise from the best player in the world...But the jeers from the Heat collective were soon muffled as it was immediately announced that the pick would be dealt to Miami later in the night. This was a potential sigh of relief for Heat fans as it may spell the end of Mario Chalmers tenure in the state of Florida.  Although Lebron wouldn't hinge his decision on the selection of Shabazz Napier, it must make fans optimistic that Pat Riley is trying to build this team around Lebron from the ground up.  I'm not saying that Lebron re-signing in Miami is a sure thing, but this is the most positive news Heat fans will hear until both Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade opt out. 

Regardless if Lebron likened Napier or not, he'll certainly be an improvement from Chalmers and should be the opening night starter for the Heat going forward.  A proven winner, Shabazz knows what it takes to make his team successful and he would strictly need to fill the role of facilitator if the Big Three remain in tact.  Miami will appreciate his work on both ends of the floor and his willingness to get in the paint and fight for rebounds.  

2. Philly Remains Patient

Last draft, the Sixers took their chances on Nerlens Noel and dealt perennial All-Star Jrue Holiday to New Orleans, knowing that he'd be sitting out for an entire year to rehab his leg injury.  With an additional lottery pick coming this year, now would be the time for Philly to really improve their roster with a rested Noel, the Rookie of the Year in Michael Carter-Williams and two top 10 selections. Tanking this season, they had wanted Andrew Wiggins and were devastated when they landed out of the top two picks, leaving uncertainty that they'd receive Wiggins or Parker.  Once Joel Embiid was officially injured, Philly attempted to move up to the number one pick to ensure Wiggins by offering a flurry of draft picks and Thaddeus Young.  To no avail, Cleveland would keep the pick and draft Wiggins and the Bucks would follow suit by taking Jabari Parker.  Now, the Sixers were left with a huge decision, either take a risk on Joel Embiid's recovery timetable or draft another guard to pair with MCW.  Choosing the former, Philly selected the ill-fated potential number one pick two spots later which many said would fall down on the draft board.  I was not one of them and praised Philly for taking Embiid on his potential and avoid being fended off by his pair of injuries in the past few months.

Although he may not be in the starting lineup to start the season, this is someone that Philly can build their team around as they stacked up on young players with their FIVE second round picks in addition to their other lottery pick.  Remaining with the theme of their draft, patience, Sixers would trade their 10th pick Elfrid Payton (possible reach) and swapped him for two picks down for the rights to the Croatian dynamo, Super Dario Saric. I was a fan of either pick but the Sixers would be able to stash Saric for a year or two to let him continue to develop while they evaluate the Nerlens Noel situation.  In the process, Philly picked up yet another first round pick and a second rounder by dropping two spots.  If you think that the Knicks are developing a young core, look at the picks made by the Sixers made in the later stages of the draft. This is a full rebuilding process and Philly seems to making the right decisions to enhance their future successes.

3. Magic Attempt to Pull Rabbit out of Hat; Draft Gordon

One of the most surprising early picks from last night, the Magic passed on Dante Exum to go forward and draft Arizona's Aaron Gordon with their 4th pick.  Gordon, who has been hyped since he entered college has drawn comparisons to Blake Griffin in his brief tenure and was sought after by several teams last night. Apparently, the Magic were one of them and selected Gordon as opposed to solidifying their backcourt. Orlando had previously been raving about Marcus Smart since last year and looked as though Jameer Nelson could soon be looking at his replacement. Nothing against Gordon, I'm just more impressed by Julius Randle and Noah Vonleh, which led me to believe that they reached for a player they could've received if they traded down.

Gordon stated in his post-draft interview that he had an excellent workout for the Magic a few weeks ago and he wasn't surprised by the selection at all.  He can bring versatility to the Magic's backcourt with freak athleticism and great defense. Orlando, with two lottery selections would later trade for guard Elfrid Payton, swapping Dario Saric and two future picks to move up on two spots. It would appear that the Magic gave away too much for such a small jump but they covered both of their needs last night.

4. Zach LaVine prompts Viral Vine

Something that was brought to my attention later on in the night was the unenthusiastic reaction by UCLA's Zach LaVine after getting drafted by Minnesota. After close review, you can also see what appears to be LaVine mouthing "F**k me" to someone at his table. Maybe it's something that UCLA has against Minnesota, as former-Bruin Kevin Love is looking for any possible route out of the state. This kid wasn't even on many team's radar until about a month ago so I would be thrilled that someone took a chance on him. It was yet another project pick for the T'Wolves and are in desperate need of some excitement with Love's departure imminent. LaVine has the potential to be a great player but it will require some patience, on both ends...very weird first impression.

Update: After reading many blog posts this morning, it is apparent that LaVine was more shocked in a good way rather than displeasure.  Still, a pretty comical situation out first turns into a kid that's just can't believe his dreams have been realized.


5. Isaiah Austin's Dream is Finally Realized

A very touching moment last night as Adam Silver interrupted the 16th pick to give a heartfelt speech about Baylor prospect Isaiah Austin and his recent news of a career ending injury. Austin, a projected late first round prospect was cut down by Marfan's Syndrome last week, effectively ending his career.  Since then, he's deservingly received a tremendous outpouring of sympathy and inspiration from the entire basketball community. A great kid who is going to contribute in his efforts to bring awareness to disease, it was only fitting that he was honored last night.

A Class of His Own: Austin Thanks Fans for Support

Silver would proceed to have the NBA "select" Austin midway through the first round with brought on an amazing ovation for the young man.  He finally was able to walk across the stage to shake the commissioner's hand to prove that his hard work and dedication had finally paid off.  It is a shame that his career was cut extremely short but this is something that he and all the fans will remember for a long time.

6. Bill Simmons is Not Impressed

Just figured I'd toss this in to conclude the article...here's Bill Simmons eye-roll after it was announced that Miami had traded for Napier.  Here's the thing, I really like Bill Simmons as an analyst because like Jeff Van Gundy, he'll say whatever is on his mind. However, he is a big-time homer and anytime something doesn't benefit the Celtics he's got something to say. His beef with the Napier trade is that teams are simply doing these trades to assist Miami. Stick to the comedic jabs at Jay Bilas, Bill, you're much more entertaining that way.