Our long national nightmare is over — Johnny Manziel has been found.
The Browns quarterback was actually at the team’s facility Monday as they checked out for the year, after he was AWOL yesterday for the season-ending loss and mass firings.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, a Browns spokesman said Manziel wasn’t talking, since he was still in the concussion protocol.
Rookie defensive tackle Danny Shelton said he saw Manziel, but didn’t talk to him. Asked about reports he was in Las Vegas instead of being in town for the final game, Shelton replied: “He’s his own man. You can’t really tell him what to do.’'
That seems apparent at this point, and the Browns have plenty of decisions to make regarding the former first-rounder, and even teammates who once professed confidence in him seem frustrated.
“If that’s a true report that’s obvious for him some things are more important than football and being a starting quarterback and that’s something that probably needs to be addressed in the offseason,’' left tackle Joe Thomas said.
When asked what he’d like to see from Manziel in the future, Thomas replied: “Just a commitment to the game, that’s the biggest thing. I just want to know the Cleveland Browns are the most important thing in that person’s life.’'
Owner Jimmy Haslam has already thrown down the gauntlet, invoking the fact the Browns have the second pick in the draft. Perhaps if he’s in the team facility today, he can tell Manziel in person.
But he better hurry.