The pressure is on Johnny Manziel and he knows it. The quarterback has a lot to prove this season, not just on the field, but off it as well. The Cleveland Browns already found their starting quarterback for the short-term in Josh McCown and they will spend this season determining if Manziel is the long-term option. As the quarterback gets to work after a roller coaster offseason, he is admitting that it is time to step up.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, all eyes are on Manziel. While everyone is praising the quarterback's maturity and skill set, he must prove he can put it all together if he intends on staying with this team. Manziel spoke with the media for the first time since an offseason stint in rehab and said immaturity was the downfall of last year.
"Last year is last year, it was what it was and it was not very good," Manziel said, via the Plain Dealer. "So for me, I'm trying to close that chapter and just build on what I've done so far this year and just move forward, and try to close that chapter in my life. Not one that I'm very proud of, not one that I want to look back on very much and dwell on, that's for sure."
According to ESPN, Manziel has struggled so far in team minicamp. On Tuesday, the quarterback was bobbling snaps and missing throws. Head coach Mike Pettine admits that the pressure is a lot for the quarterback to handle as he continues to be a fixation of the media.
"People either want him to succeed in a big way or want him to fail in a big way," Pettine said, via ESPN.com. "That adds to the pressure that he's under."
McCown was not signed to be the long-term option for the Browns. The veteran is merely a stop-gap option while the Browns determine the future of the position. Several veteran quarterbacks could be available come next season and if Manziel does not excel this year, the Browns could be eyeing all of them. According to NFL Media Insider, both Philip Rivers and Drew Brees could be options next season along with Colin Kaepernick. Sam Bradford and Nick Foles are both working off expiring contracts while backups like Mike Glennon and Kirk Cousins could become targets.
There are plenty of quarterbacks the Browns could aim for should Manziel not improve this year. Pettine denied the Browns were giving up on the quarterback after his offseason, but Manziel has a lot to prove to the franchise if that fails to happen, they will replace him.
