The Case For: Johnny Manziel

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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.