Johnny Manziel grabbed headlines on Wednesday following his interview with Shannon Sharpe on the “Club Shay Shay” show, which was released the same day.
In the candid discussion, Manziel touched on various topics, including his potential earnings through NIL deals and his apologies to notable figures like LeBron James and Skip Bayless. However, it was his revelation about a pivotal offer from his father to then-Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin that truly made waves.
For the first time publicly, Manziel disclosed details about his father’s proposition to Sumlin while he was contemplating his future at Texas A&M. As a standout quarterback for the Aggies in 2012 and 2013, Manziel faced the decision of either remaining in college or entering the NFL draft for the 2014 season.
He revealed that his father approached Sumlin, proposing a $3 million deal to secure Johnny’s continued presence at A&M for the next two years. Surprisingly, Sumlin reportedly dismissed the offer with laughter.
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Manziel also recounted a similar reaction from Sumlin when then-Aggies offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury sought to become the highest-paid OC in the country. Kingsbury eventually departed to take on the head coaching role at Texas Tech.
Ultimately, Manziel entered the NFL draft and was selected as the No. 22 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2014. Had Sumlin entertained the proposal from the Manziel family, Johnny would have remained at A&M for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
While the idea of a lucrative under-the-table deal may sound enticing, there are several reasons why Sumlin’s dismissal of the offer appears justified. Firstly, such an agreement would have violated NCAA regulations. Secondly, Manziel’s academic and athletic commitment to the university had waned, with the team experiencing a decline in performance during his tenure. Finally, it’s conceivable that Sumlin was ready to move on from Manziel, given his perceived lack of control and the arrival of promising recruits like Kenny Hill.
In hindsight, the proposed $3 million deal may seem appealing, but its feasibility was questionable from the outset.
