Johnny Manziel did not have an ideal rookie season on and off the field, but former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan believes the young quarterback will eventually find his mark.
Manziel, who was selected as the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, had several off-field issues that did not sit well with team executives and their fans, with most of them labeling the former a Texas A&M standout a "bad guy" because of his antics, but Shanahan thinks otherwise.
"Johnny's a great guy, and I think he does get a little bit of a bad rep with that, because Johnny worked very hard for me," Shanahan told ESPN. "I really enjoyed coaching him."
Manziel had limited opportunities to show what he is made off in his rookie season, where he just appeared in five games, completing 18 of his 35 passes for 175 yards with no touchdown against two interceptions.
Browns coach Mike Pettine previously said that he is not ready to write Manziel off after getting limited amount of playing time last season. Shanahan, who moved to Atlanta Falcons last month, echoed Pettine's statement and said that the 22-year-old quarterback has a bright future ahead of him in the NFL.
"I don't know what he's going through right now, but I think I'm confident Johnny will work it all out," Shanahan said. "And I think he has a chance to have a good future."
Earlier this month, the Browns announced that Manziel entered a treatment facility in the hope of improving his behavior and learn how to overcome his off-court issues.
Brad Beckworth, Manziel's adviser, said that the Texas native knows that he needs to take his job seriously and remain focused on becoming a better person and teammate, which was the reason why the quarterback decided to seek treatment.
Browns general manager Ray Farmer lauded the decision and expressed support to Manziel, who he kept an eye on heading into the 2014 NFL Draft. Farmer had to strike a trade to move up in draft to acquire the former Heisman trophy winner.
"We respect Johnny's initiative in this decision and will fully support him throughout the process," Farmer said in a statement. "Our players' health and well-being will always be of the utmost importance to the Cleveland Browns. We continually strive to create a supportive environment and provide the appropriate resources with our foremost focus being on the individual and not just the football player."
