Cleveland Browns to cut Johnny Manziel

[Bowser]

To the surprise of nobody not named Hog Farmer...


The Cleveland Browns will move on from Johnny Manziel just two seasons after they drafted him in the first round.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday the team will cut Manziel when the new league year starts March 9.

Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown released a statement Tuesday regarding Manziel's most recent off-field incident.

"We've been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field," Brown said. "Johnny's continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules. We will have no further comment at this time."

Per league rules, the Browns cannot cut Manziel until next week at the earliest. Rapoport reported the Browns have $20 million in cap space for 2015, which the carried over to 2016, like all but three teams did. Because Manziel has guarantees in his contract, they need space to absorb the cap hit in 2015. Currently, they have no space, which is why they will wait for the league year to start.

Rapoport previously reported that when new coach Hue Jackson took over the team, Manziel's fate was sealed.

Browns' statement makes that eventuality clearer.

Manziel is being investigated for an alleged incident with a 23-year-old female, the Fort Worth Police Department said in a statement on Saturday. The alleged incident occurred late last Friday evening at an apartment complex in Fort Worth.

According to the statement, officers responded to a report of a possible assault and made contact with the 23-year-old female, who was unrelated to the caller. The complainant stated that she was involved in a disturbance with Manziel, her ex-boyfriend, earlier in the evening in Dallas. The officers were unable to locate a crime scene within the Fort Worth jurisdiction

After the complaintant advised the Fort Worth P.D. officers of concerns that she had regarding Manziel's well-being, they attempted to locate him by calling his cell phone, checking locations in the area and searching the area with the assistance of an Air One Unit. Following the search, it was determined that Manziel was safe and in no danger.

The Fort Worth Police Department is still actively working with the Dallas Police Department to determine if a criminal offense occurred.

An NFL spokesman added, "We are aware and looking into it."

This marks the latest of several incidents involving Manziel as a member of the Browns. The team announced last month that it had fined the second-year quarterback for missing a scheduled medical treatment on the final Sunday of the season.

Manziel was also benched ahead of a Week 12 matchup with the Ravens after a video surfaced of the quarterback partying at a club in Austin. A week prior to that, Manziel was cleared of any wrongdoing in a domestic violence incident. During the 2015 offseason, the quarterback spent 10 weeks in the offseason in a Pennsylvania rehab facility specializing in alcohol and substance abuse.

[The Franchise]

The only way that I would be ok with Manziel being brought in is if he signs a contract that completely voids after his first ****up. I'm talking ZERO guaranteed money.

[gblowfish]

He'll go to Dallas. KC won't touch him with a ten foot pole.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

He'll go to Dallas. KC won't touch him with a ten foot pole.

It's a writer opinion. And his opinion is 'anyone other than Alex'.

Chiefs have class.

[Andoverer]

Originally Posted by eDave

It's a writer opinion. And his opinion is 'anyone other than Alex'.

Chiefs have class.

Well here's another one who is thinking along the same lines....Put the name
RGIII in there and it sounds rather similar to the talk concerning him a few months ago....

Could the Chiefs be a dark horse landing spot for Johnny Manziel?

Johnny Manziel in red and gold? Head coach Andy Reid is no stranger to risky quarterbacking moves.

By Nick Toney
Feb 1, 2016 at 11:08p ET
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/k...k-trade-020116

For the better part of 60 minutes, Johnny Manziel kept Arrowhead Stadium uneasy in Week 16.

The much-maligned Browns quarterback nearly spoiled a Chiefs playoff push. But going forward, he might be the man to lead future ones.

Manziel might be the perfect quarterbacking candidate for Andy Reid to reclaim in 2016. He's troubled, he's got an arm, and he'll come cheap; all those factors once characterized Michael Vick, despite Reid's relationship with Donovan McNabb.

Manziel would benefit from a concrete QB depth chart in Kansas City. He'd sit and learn (both on the field and off) while Alex Smith led the offense. Then, if he proved a worthy study, he'd claim Smith's job one day.

If not, Manziel would still come cheaper than current backup Chase Daniel. It's a no-lose situation for the Chiefs, who should be in the market for a new backup this spring.

[Tom_A_Hawk]

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

Well...Daniel is gone this offseason, we know that much.

Gotta have someone back there. Just hope he comes cheap so we can cut ties quick if he becomes a distraction.

How many more years is Bray going to be stealing a pay check from this team? Picking up the likes of Manziel means what regarding Bray and Murray?

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Tom_A_Hawk

How many more years is Bray going to be stealing a pay check from this team? Picking up the likes of Manziel means what regarding Bray and Murray?

according to saccofcrap, Bray and Murray aren't good enough so it makes no difference if they ever play a snap. Apparently we carry 4 QBs because Andy Reid thinks it makes him look like he's actually trying.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Between this thread and the Funeral Porn thread I have grown to semi erect status.

[Msmith]

How much does the Browns lose or have to pay Johnny for his contract?

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Msmith

How much does the Browns lose or have to pay Johnny for his contract?

I saw an article last week saying that Browns had carried over like 20 million in cap room from last season to handle getting rid of Manziel.


It didn't say exactly how much that was be

[Mr. Laz]

Why the Browns are waiting to cut Johnny ManzielNov 5, 2015

By: Steven Ruiz | February 2, 2016 1:50 pm
Johnny Manziel’s time in Cleveland seems to be running out. The team basically said as much in a press release sent out Tuesday morning:

Full statement from Sashi Brown https://t.co/uddEr5FE8a

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) February 2, 2016

Translation: We are going to try to get rid of Manziel as soon as it makes sense for us financially.

Manziel’s contract will make the process a little more complicated. He signed a four-year, $8.2 million deal after Cleveland took him with the 21st overall pick in 2013, according to Spotrac. Almost all of that contract was guaranteed ($7.9 million of it, to be exact) and halfway through the deal, the Browns still owe Manziel more than $4 million in guarantees in addition to his $4.8 million base salary over the next two years combined.

By parting ways with the 23-year-old, the team would save the $4.8 million base salary without a penalty but would have to pay Manziel his guarantees in one lump sum, which would count against the team’s cap in 2016 as dead money.

The most financially-efficient solution would be to wait until June 1 to release Manziel, which would allow the Browns to spread that dead money over two years. In that scenario, Cleveland would have to pay Manziel the $2 million in guarantees he’s set to earn next season but save the $2 million he’ll make in base salary. So, essentially, the Browns would break even.

That sets up an awkward four-month waiting period with Manziel on the roster but obviously not a part of the team’s plans for the future.

The league does allow teams to designate two “June 1” cuts well before that day on the calendar, but that would limit the amount of money Cleveland could save by using that designation on more expensive veterans, such as Paul Kruger and Donte Whitner.

Either way, the Browns and Manziel will have to wait until March 9, when the new league year officially begins, to part ways.

Like other teams #Browns rolled over unused cap space (~$20.7M) day after season ended. So Manziel cut & $4.33M cap hit can't occur til 3/9.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 2, 2016

Things haven’t looked good for Manziel since Cleveland hired new head coach Hue Jackson, who did not hide the fact that he was looking for a new quarterback.

Hue Jackson on the Browns: "If there is a QB at #2 that is a best fit for our team, we need to go get him. It's my opinion we need a QB."

— Bleacher Report SXM (@br_radio) January 17, 2016

And that interview took place before Manziel’s latest off-field incident, in which Fort Worth police investigated an alleged assault involving Manziel.

Having the second overall pick in the 2016 draft will certainly make it easier for the Browns to find their new quarterback and move on from the Johnny Football era.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Andoverer

Well here's another one who is thinking along the same lines....Put the name
RGIII in there and it sounds rather similar to the talk concerning him a few months ago....

Could the Chiefs be a dark horse landing spot for Johnny Manziel?

Johnny Manziel in red and gold? Head coach Andy Reid is no stranger to risky quarterbacking moves.

By Nick Toney
Feb 1, 2016 at 11:08p ET
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/k...k-trade-020116

For the better part of 60 minutes, Johnny Manziel kept Arrowhead Stadium uneasy in Week 16.

The much-maligned Browns quarterback nearly spoiled a Chiefs playoff push. But going forward, he might be the man to lead future ones.

Manziel might be the perfect quarterbacking candidate for Andy Reid to reclaim in 2016. He's troubled, he's got an arm, and he'll come cheap; all those factors once characterized Michael Vick, despite Reid's relationship with Donovan McNabb.

Manziel would benefit from a concrete QB depth chart in Kansas City. He'd sit and learn (both on the field and off) while Alex Smith led the offense. Then, if he proved a worthy study, he'd claim Smith's job one day.

If not, Manziel would still come cheaper than current backup Chase Daniel. It's a no-lose situation for the Chiefs, who should be in the market for a new backup this spring.

Michael Vick could actually play football.

Johnny Manziel can't.

That's the difference.

[Andoverer]

or the Johnny Football error

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Having the second overall pick in the 2016 draft will certainly make it easier for the Browns to find their new quarterback and move on from the Johnny Football era.

I don't think there's anything in this world that makes finding a new QB easier for the Browns.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by milkman

I don't think there's anything in this world that makes finding a new QB easier for the Browns.

And I agree. What kind of stuns me is the amount of Browns fans who do t want them to take a qb. It's mind bottling.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Mav

And I agree. What kind of stuns me is the amount of Browns fans who do t want them to take a qb. It's mind bottling.

Exactly.

The Browns have tried every single possible way to find a QB. Free agency, draft, and trades. All of them. And all of them have ended in fiery diarrhea.