Johnny Football Makes The Wrong Highlight Reel

19 Aug, 2014

Johnny Manziel made his second preseason appearance Monday night. His middle finger made its first.

Late in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 24-23 loss to Washington, theBrowns rookie quarterback flipped the Redskins’ sideline the bird in what was a less-than-stellar outing.

“It doesn’t sit well,” head coach Mike Pettine said after the game. “I was informed of it after the game and it’s disappointing because what we talk about is being poised and being focused. You have to be able to maintain your poise. That’s a big part of all football players especially the quarterback has to keep their composure. That’s something we’ll obviously address with him.”

Manziel called the moment a “lapse of judgment.” Teammate Joe Haden said opposition fans and players were giving “Johnny Football” plenty of unprintable verbal grief for the second straight week. Manziel was openly mocked by Brian Orakpo when the Redskins linebacker raised both hands and performed the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner’s “money” gesture after a sack by Ryan Kerrigan in the first quarter.

“I get words exchanged throughout the entirety of the game, every game, week after week, and I should’ve been smarter,” Manziel said. “It was a ‘Monday Night Football’ game and cameras were probably solid on me, and I just need to be smarter about that. … It’s there, and it’s present every game, and I just need to let it slide off my back and go to the next play.”

Manziel, who completed 7 of 16 passes for 65 yards and a touchdown pass to running back Dion Lewis, was under constant pressure throughout the evening. Brian Hoyer, who’s competing with Manziel for the starting spot, was 2 of 6 for 16 yards.

“I really tried to force everything and not let it fly like I should have,” Manziel said. “I need to get better at that and throw the dang ball.”

AP

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