Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t make much secret of his affinity for quarterback Johnny Manziel before Manziel was drafted by the Browns and the Cowboys’ need for a backup quarterback had a lot of people looking in Dallas’ direction as Manziel’s stay in Cleveland unfolded in rocky fashion.
Manziel is now a free agent, but his issues with alcohol and a law enforcement investigation into a January incident with his ex-girlfriend have left serious doubts about Manziel’s future in the NFL. Those doubters reportedly include the Cowboys and, speaking from the league meetings Tuesday, Jones seemed to confirm that the Cowboys won’t be in the Manziel business unless the quarterback shows he has his off-field issues under control.
“As it would turn out, he’s had a disappointing life experience, as it would pertain to his time in the NFL,” Jones said, via the team’s website. “I do respect him as a player and a talent. I want to talk about any way he could help that. ... My interpretation of how he’s responded to the challenge of fame and the challenge of professionalism, has been compromised by a far more important issue. He needs to get the human elements and skills addressed. I think where he is, speaks for itself. That just has to be addressed.”
Until they are addressed, it’s hard to imagine any team signing up for the Manziel experience even if new agent Drew Rosenhaus says he’s heard from interested teams. Should that outlook change over time, though, Dallas may yet be a place for Manziel to try to get his career moving in the right direction.