There was a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen last week that the Cleveland Browns are "90 percent" done with quarterback Johnny Manziel, which seems odd.
It's odd because how can anyone know what Manziel will be like after about 10 weeks in a treatment facility for substance dependency?
it would be foolish for the Browns to give up on Manziel now (but, then again, it's the Browns and their foolish decisions are the norm). They spent a first-round pick on Manziel last year and have to at least see how he has changed and if he can develop into a good NFL quarterback. But, it's clear there will need to be changes.
Browns Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Thomas has been the face of the Browns for years, and he remains optimistic despite a lot of losing. And his comments on Manziel's return to ESPNCleveland.com's Tony Grossi seem to be pretty spot on.
“I think he’s going to have to prove to the team that football is important and being the man, being the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, is important, it is his goal, his single goal in his life,” Thomas told ESPNCleveland.com.
“You know, I think he lost probably a lot of trust among the guys on the team last year by the way he handled himself once he became the starter. And I think he had a lot of time to reflect, I’m guessing, after the season was over by the comments he made in the media and by his actions, checking himself into rehab … I think those were really positive steps.
“I’m hoping when we comes back in April we see a new Johnny and everybody’s blown away with his commitment. And I think he’s got the talent, so it’s just a matter of if he commits himself to it, we can have a really good quarterback on our hands.”
That sums up the state of affairs well, assuming that the Browns haven't entirely given up on him (which no decent organization would do after two starts, one of which was cut short by injury). The Browns might not have been happy with Manziel last year, but it's in everyone's best interests if he can come in with a clean slate. TMZ said Manziel was golfing with his father in Louisiana this past weekend, a sign his rehab stint was coming to an end. He's expected to be in attendance when the Browns' offseason program starts April 20, ESPNCleveland.com said.
At that point Manziel can start to change the path of his career. He has a ways to go, of course. Thomas' words tell you that, too. Maybe, like Thomas said, he'll be a new Johnny.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
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