Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel will miss their regular-season finale on Sunday after sustaining concussion and an ESPN analyst thinks the troubled QB will be traded to a new team next season.
Manziel, the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, had noteworthy performances for the Browns this season, but his game was overshadowed by his off-field troubles again this season.
The former Texas A&M standout was involved in a roadside incident with his girlfriend in October, where Colleen Crowley accused Manziel of hurting her. Manziel was not disciplined for the said incident, but he disappointed team officials again after he was seen in a video partying during their bye week.
The partying video forced Browns coach Mike Pettine to demote him from being their starting quarterback to third-string. The 23-year-old was able to reclaim the starting spot but will not be able to play in their final regular-season game due to concussion.
Earlier this week, Pettine declined to talk about Manziel's future in Cleveland but he admitted that the sophomore quarterback's behavior outside the playing field could be a factor, when they decide on their off-season moves.
"We always talk in terms of long-term sustained success," Pettine told reporters via ESPN. "And that's what you want to strive for. If things aren't right off the field, that's very difficult to have that level of consistency, especially when you're in a position of leadership."
While Pettine is not willing to engage in deeper discussion about Manziel's future, ESPN analyst John Clayton is convinced that Manziel's time in Cleveland is over. He pointed out that the Browns will likely use their first-round pick this year to nab a top quarterback prospect and trade Manziel.
"I think he's over, I really do, because the team now is in a position to draft -- most likely -- the first quarterback in the draft," Clayton said on SportsCenter via Dallas News. "And whatever they do, and if they do take a quarterback, you know that they're not going to stay with Johnny Manziel."
And as for Manziel's possible destination, Clayton named the Dallas Cowboys as Manziel's potential destination.
"They'll try to flip him for a low draft choice - fifth-round, sixth-round pick - Dallas would be a likely destination," Clayton continued. "But I think you can understand that there's disappointment with the way this all worked out."
Manziel appeared in nine games this season, where completed 57.8 percent of his passes for 1,500 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions.
