How the Browns Set Johnny Manziel Up to Fail

Monday, Aug. 24, 2015 (PM) – OK, I want to see if I can understand all this.

The Browns had to have done their due diligence on quarterback Johnny Manziel leading up to the 2014 NFL Draft. In analyzing him from head to toe, they had to have noticed his three-quarters delivery when he passed the ball.

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And, being football people, they had to know that that kind of motion puts undue stress on the arm.

But they felt comfortable enough with everything to trade up four spots in the first round so they could take Manziel at No. 22 overall.

Then in training camp this year, they had to have known he needed to be on a pitch count. Yet they still had him throwing too much, causing them to have to shut him down twice.

The second time happened last weekend, making Manziel iffy for Saturday night’s preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is the third preseason contest of the year and as such is the dress rehearsal for the regular season. The Browns really wanted him to play so they could see if he could continue his good performances. They viewed Saturday as a piece of the puzzle in determining his future with the club.

But they didn’t monitor him properly and he ended up overdoing it.

So the Browns are their own worst enemies in this situation. They have mismanaged themselves right into another problem.

Isn’t this what it looks like to you? It sure looks that way to me.

Couple this story with the slew of hamstring injuries the Browns have suffered in camp this year, and it makes you wonder – it makes you really wonder – if they know what they’re doing when it comes to identifying talent and developing it. Do they have any medical or training sense at all?

This is troubling. Day after day with this team, there is news of a health issue gone bad.

And all the while the clock ticks toward the start of the regular season on Sept. 13.

Steve King

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