In the newly released Netflix documentary, “Untold: Johnny Football,” former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel and his former agent, Erik Burkhardt, revealed shocking details about Manziel’s lack of preparation during his time in the NFL.
Despite being known for their obsession with game tape, Manziel admitted to not watching any tape during his two-year stint in Cleveland.
Burkhardt shared a conversation in the documentary where the team’s GM expressed concern over Manziel’s lack of film-watching, as his iPad hours showed a total of zero.
This revelation sheds light on why Manziel, despite his successful college career, ultimately did not succeed in the NFL.
“Their GM’s calling me going, ‘He doesn’t watch tape,’” Burkhardt, the co-head of football for Roc Nation, said in the documentary. “I’m like, ‘Well, he’s got to watch some tape.’
“He’s like, ‘E.B., his iPad hours is 0.00.’”
Johnny Manziel was given a team iPad where coaches could secretly track the amount of time he spent watching film.
But the problem was that Manziel didn’t watch any film. Literally not a minute.pic.twitter.com/ydbOVnybo0
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) August 9, 2023
The Browns, under then-GM Ray Farmer, selected Manziel in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Farmer, who only lasted two seasons as the GM, is speculated to be the person Burkhardt had the conversation with regarding Manziel’s minimal film sessions.
Additionally, Burkhardt mentioned on Twitter how Manziel lost his bag containing his cleats and clothes before his workout with the Browns, further exemplifying his lack of preparation.
Some additional context to the Browns private workout where I literally had to run routes for my guy @JManziel2….
1. I was going FULL SPEED (not fast! ?) and literally having to lay out/ dive for balls bc he’s throwing normal NFL passes as if I was Mike Evans… https://t.co/543jQQvOGf
— Erik Burkhardt (@ErikBurkhardt) August 9, 2023
Although Manziel played in a few games, starting six in 2015, he failed to make a significant impact and was released by the Browns in March 2016 due to both on-field performance and off-the-field issues.
But what a ride.
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