Yes, it’s that time of year when NFL fans, analysts and experts get excited about NFL Draft prospects, especially “potential” franchise quarterbacks.
But, man, have a lot of people been wrong.
Johnny Football is one of the biggest flameouts ever. He was drafted late in the first round of the 2014 Draft so it wasn’t a huge gamble by the Browns.
Still, many people had high hopes. Others didn’t.
Let’s look back at a couple of the past comments regarding his NFL potential.
And obviously, his off-the-field behavior should have sent up huge red flags, but we’re talking just about his game-day plays and how that should also give NFL GMs and scouts cause to pause and think about a college QB’s NFL future.
The most telling observation came fronm college football analyst and former NFL quarterback Gary Danielson when he compared Manziel to another Heisman winner, Ty Detmer. (Granted, Detmer was drafted in the ninth round; Manziel in the first, but still)
Uh-oh.
That should have been a strong heads-up as to how Manziel’s QB style was going to play out in the NFL. And he and Detmer did do similarly great things but so did Adam Morrison and Jimmer Fredette during their college basketball careers — to make a dual-comparison — and everyone knows how their NBA stints turned out.
Anyhow, Mel Kiper, who was initially onboard the Manziel-hype train, jumped off early but Skip Bayless stayed strongly opinionated full-steam ahead.
Finally, this is a reminder to all fans, not just Browns fans (but seriously, be worried about Baker Mayfield’s regression last season), that sometimes Draft Night joy just doesn’t work out for your team down the road — particularly when it comes to quarterbacks.
