New Browns coach Hue Jackson talked a lot before he had a chance to address Johnny Manziel, and once he did, it became clear that the former first-round pick’s time with the team will be short.
Jackson opened his 15-minute stint on the podium with a solid six-minute filibuster, extolling the virtues of the roster he inherited, the team’s new organizational chart, and the Combine in general, without saying all that much.
But what he said about Manziel when finally asked around the 10-minute mark was clear: “I knew that question was coming. We made a statement two weeks ago about Johnny Manziel and I’m going to stand by that. . . . That behavior will not be tolerated as we move forward. Our organization is going to take a stand.”
Manziel’s still being investigated in Texas for the latest incident with his girlfriend, and the Browns put out word the week before the Super Bowl that they had effectively washed their hands of him.
Now the only question is about the timing, as Jackson’s eventual position left little room for interpretation.