Getty Image / Wesley Hitt/AAF
Johnny Manziel‘s days in the NFL were shortlived. He was the former #22 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft but went on to only throw 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions before he was released by the Cleveland Browns on March 11, 2016.
Johnny Football’s time in the NFL was overshadowed by news about his antics. It started with a $12,000 fine for a ‘hand gesture’ in a preseason game against the Washington Redskins. A fellow player called Manziel’s rookie campaign a “100% joke”. He started the next preseason injured, played some, was eventually demoted to third-string, and then cut where he’d go on to spend a few years in the Canadian Football League and AAF.
The 2012 Heisman Trophy recipient’s professional career has disappointed a lot of fans who expected him to go onto do great things in the NFL and I’m sure Johnny saw his career going wildly different in his mind but that’s neither here nor there now because we’ve reached the point where JFF can at least laught about it.
The NFL on ESPN Twitter account sent out this tweet about Johnny’s backflip/backflop and he responded with some self-deprecating humor:
.@JManziel2's "backflip" was … 😅 pic.twitter.com/pq6ek76FkU
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 12, 2020
Here’s his response:
Went about as well as my time in the league 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/e9PfTrD9a6
— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) May 12, 2020
The replies are pretty in line with what you’d expect to see:
Naw it was as good as your football whole football career:
U started on the top, then tried to be cool, then failed— me (@Ravensrgreat) May 12, 2020
Can’t make fun of him if he makes fun of himself first. Good advice agent. pic.twitter.com/yOeBIgKwF1
— ATLienFalcon (@ATLienFalcon) May 12, 2020
Maybe if you’d spend more time in the weight room and less time swimming, you’d be in the league. As a youth football coaching legend, I forbid my players from ever learning how to swim because they need to focus on football.
— Three Year Letterman (@3YearLetterman) May 12, 2020
A live shot of being a Browns fan since 99 😂
— Nick Karns (@karnsies817) May 12, 2020
The fact you can joke about it props man hope all is well
— #spartyup #onepride (@gamebreaker1990) May 12, 2020
I genuinely respect the self-roast.
— CFBKnights (@CFBKnights) May 12, 2020
nah comeback szn
— 🦦 (@1fizZz) May 12, 2020
Johnny’s only 27-years-old and would’ve been entering the prime of his NFL years if he were still in the league. I have no idea what he’s up to these days but it’s amazing we’re still talking about him when he hasn’t taken an NFL snap in years.