It’s been nearly four years since LeBron James left Cleveland. But he’s got renewed interest in the town.
LeBron’s business partner, Maverick Carter, represents Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. Both James and Manziel have deals with Nike, and they appeared in a McDonald’s commercial together.
And so LeBron was sporting Manziel’s new Browns jersey on Friday.
“After I saw he didn’t go to Dallas, I figured he’d go to Cleveland,” James said, via ESPN.com. “He’s a smart kid and he relishes the opportunity to hopefully bring some great moments back to Cleveland as far as the football team.”
James, a Cowboys fan, hoped Jerry Jones and company would draft Manziel. James nevertheless embraces the idea of Manziel playing in the town where LeBron used to play.
“It’s exciting, he’s going to get the opportunity to compete for the starting job, so it’s exciting for us, our family and his family,” James said. “He’s been in pressure situations for a long time, that shouldn’t change now because he’s starting his NFL [career].”
Manziel is starting his career in Cleveland, but there’s no guarantee he’ll finish it there. Someday, Manziel could do what James did and leave Cleveland for a glitzier team. Possibly the team James wanted to see Manziel join in the first place.