I admit, I was hooked.
When the Cleveland Browns drafted Johnny Manziel in 2014, I wanted it to work. I thought maybe he had enough guts and moxie to be the savior of this franchise. I hosted a radio show on the night we found out about Manziel's "Wreck This League" text to then-Browns QB coach Dowell Loggains on draft night. I remember thinking, "Wow, this kid really could be the franchise quarterback we've been waiting for."
Clearly, I was wrong. Jimmy Donovan admitted to me on Wednesday's postgame show that he was all-in on Manziel and thought it could work.
We all were wrong.
Four years later, Manziel is attempting to make a comeback into pro football and has been working out at various pro days. He's also been doing interviews, including one on The Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday.
Just when you thought he was starting to take some ownership for mistakes made in the past, Manziel dropped this stink bomb on the air: "If Cleveland did any of their homework they would have known I wasn't a guy who came in every day and watch film. I wasn't a guy who really knew the X's and O's of football."
Come on, man.
Jimmy and I looked back at that time period as we examined how dysfunctional the Browns organization was before, during, and after they drafted Manziel. Keep in mind, Johnny wasn't the only first-round bust from that draft for the Browns. Jimmy gave me some interesting information about the drafting of Justin Gilbert as well.
We also considered the imminent return of both Michael Brantley and Tyronn Lue on Wednesday's show. The Indians are hoping Brantley can show signs of the form that made him one of baseball's best hitters, while the Cavs are welcoming back their head coach during their final four-game stretch of the regular season. We will be watching both men closely.
Catch the Donovan Live Postgame Show in the player above