NFL Hall of Fame offensive tackle and Cleveland Browns legend Joe Thomas had some strong words for former Browns QB Johnny Manziel on Friday. Thomas appeared on an episode of Manziel’s podcast a few days prior, where the two discussed Manziel’s short Browns tenure, among other things. Manziel went on to criticize the Browns organization for his failed career a few days later.
“You know it’s interesting, I did that podcast [with Manziel],” Thomas said, “and then two days later he must’ve done the latest podcast where he was blaming the Browns for his stinking. And I was like, ‘No! Why would you do that? Now I’m going to look like a real idiot for going on your show!’”
Manziel was a superstar in college at Texas A&M, winning the Heisman Trophy and dominating in the SEC. “Johnny Football” caught the football world by storm and had a huge fanbase that followed him to the NFL, when the Browns selected him in the first round (No. 22 overall) in 2014. He flamed out quickly, however, appearing in just 14 games over two seasons and hasn’t played an NFL snap since 2015.
Joe Thomas on Whether the Cleveland Browns or Johnny Manziel is to Blame
Peter Aiken/GettyKANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 27: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns fights his way out of a tackle attempt from Derrick Johnson #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium during the fourth quarter of the game on December 27, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
“Two things I’ll say about Johnny,” Thomas said. “One, I think he’s a good person…. He was a friend, he still is a friend. I care about him, but he’s very delusional about who’s fault it is. But I think that’s because he is a good person and he can’t accept the fact that he was not able to be successful because he did it to himself.”
“He was not responsible, he was not mature, he was not professional. And if anyone should be mad it should be the Browns, because they took him in the first round and then he didn’t give them the effort or the opportunity even to develop him into a franchise quarterback,” Thomas continued. “But I think as a good person — and maybe this is just me being an optimist who doesn’t hold grudges or anything like that — but I think he just can’t come to terms with the fact that he screwed it up and then he squandered his opportunity in the NFL and so he needs somebody to blame still.”
“Which, clearly it’s part of the issue, part of the problems we’re dealing with. But I definitely think that he is way off thinking that it’s the Browns’ fault that he did not make it in the NFL.”
Thomas on How Manziel’s Career with the Cleveland Browns Fell Apart
“Yeah, it’s the same story,” Thomas said on whether Manziel could have succeeded with another team, “because what torpedoed his career was the late nights, the partying, the drugs and alcohol, and the not showing up and studying. And there’s no formula for success in the NFL if that’s your MO.”
“If that’s your routine — look, it doesn’t really matter what you put around them or where you go, because you’re the reason for your own demise. As a quarterback in the NFL, you have to put in so much more time than everyone else, who’s already putting in more time than Johnny did when he was with the Browns. So it’s a matter of commitment, professionalism, and if you don’t have it you’re not going to have success anywhere.”
“It’s not like he was torpedoed because he had this terrible roster around him with bad coaching,” said Thomas. “I mean, Kyle Shanahan was his offensive coordinator from what I remember. And from what I know is, he’s a pretty good offensive coordinator, from my experience, and then from empirical data watching him go to other places and watching him take them to the Super Bowl with great offenses.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Browns Hall of Famer Joe Thomas Fires Back at Johnny Manziel appeared first on Heavy Sports.