Johnny Manziel’s hopes of reviving his pro football career have hit another stumbling block after the NFL handed down a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The news was first reported by TMZ.
Last week, Manziel’s father described his son as a “druggie” – the former Browns quarterback also entered rehab in 2015 for an undisclosed problem. He is currently without a team and the suspension, along with an impending case over an alleged assault on his girlfriend, make it unlikely he will return to the NFL in the near future. If a team does decide to take a risk on Manziel before the start of the new season, he would be unavailable until week five – and even then the suspension could be extended depending on the outcome of the assault case.
Earlier this week Manziel’s attorney withdrew from the assault case after a text accidentally sent to the Associated Press revealed his doubt that his client would pass a drug test.
Manziel was a first-round pick in the 2014 draft after a brilliant college career, in which he won the Heisman Trophy. However, even without his off-field problems Manziel is not an enticing target. In his two NFL seasons he has thrown seven interceptions and seven touchdowns with a completion percentage of just 57.8.
