The 22nd Pick

By Hamish Girvan

The most amazing story of the NFL Drafts was the 22nd pick that was Johnny Manziel who was selected by the Cleveland Browns. The actual No. 1 pick was overlooked in every main sports segment, as the projected top 5 pick, Manziel. who was actually selected at no. 22, was seen as a bigger story. The sad thing is that the Browns had already selected another player with their pick at no. 4, and Johnny “Football” Manziel was relegated to the 22nd pick of the 2014 NFL Draft,

What’s the hype around this quarterback?

Manziel was a relatively unknown player to anyone outside of Texas A&M College until the day they played reigning college football champions Alabama in November 2012 whereby he took them apart in an upset win. The statement was more that the Aggies were in the first year in the South Eastern Conference and were not given a prayer to get anything out of the game. Manziel went onto win the prize for the best college football player of the year at the end of that season, and that’s perhaps is where it all started to go downhill

As a freshman winning the Heisman Award is unique however next minute little Johnny is attending in every “A” list type function ever known in the USA. Whether if be courtside at NBA games, or at movie premieres, Johnny Football certainly started to live the dream, whilst still at college. From a silver spoon background it all looked like the world was his. His subsequent season’s play was solid albeit not becoming of the brand he had created

The day of the first round of the draft was his shining moment. Expected to go in the top 5 his angst got worse with every announcement and he was finally selected by the Cleveland Browns, who took him with their second pick of the round. The relief on his face said it all however his challenge has only just begun.

The Browns are a team who are as dysfunctional on the field as well as off. Their second head coach in as many years has to build a team now that has to compete in one of the toughest divisions. Manziel has never played football north of Columbia, Missouri so the first thing to overcome is the cold weather. Coming from the winter warmth of Texas little Johnny will have to harden up somewhat.

His other issue will be profile. Cleveland is hardly the hot bed of the “A” list scene, something he seems to thrive on. Perhaps he can focus on football now.

The bonus for the Browns is that NFL fans may become interested in their team now however 24 hours after Manziel was drafted their star Wide Receiver and best player Josh Gordon was facing a ban for the upcoming season for drug offences, the second time in his career.  The term Dysfunctional, now possibly, an understatement.

The next prediction in this circus – Manziel will hold out signing a contract with them.

Poor little Johnny – sometimes life can be so unfair when you are the 22nd pick and you are only going to make $8M instead of the $20M you thought you would make being picked earlier.

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