In college, Johnny Manziel won a Heisman Trophy playing for Kevin Sumlin. In the NFL, Sumlin says, Manziel needs to clean up his act.
Sumlin, the head coach at Texas A&M, told Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports that Manziel’s off-field act is a major problem: “The things you see on TMZ, without a doubt, are hurting him”
Although Sumlin said Manziel was always dedicated to his craft in college, Sumlin thinks Manziel lacks awareness of just how dedicated he’ll have to be if he wants to make it in the NFL.
“Pro football is a job,” Sumlin said. “I know from his competitive nature he loves the game. Without a doubt, there’s a lot of things going on in his life that if he’s serious about playing professional football he’s got to change. Whatever that perception is has become reality for him, and he’s got to look that in the eye and say, ‘Alright, here’s a situation. Here’s what people think. What are the issues right now?’ He’s got to address those. He’s a great competitor, and when he was here he loved the game of football, he loved to practice, he loved to play the game. That’s got to translate in his actions in the clubhouse or with his team. The perception that he doesn’t care, he’s got to deal with that, and the only way to deal with that is to show up and work at it every day.”
Sumlin is obviously right. The question facing Manziel is whether he’s willing to listen to people like Sumlin and clean up his act. If he’s not, his career may already be over, at age 23.