Fan apologizes to Johnny Manziel

— -- The Browns fan who accused Johnny Manziel and his friend of starting a fight with him has apologized to the rookie quarterback.

The apology from Chris Gonos came in a Facebook post that was also sent to the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Police had been called after an incident in the lobby of Manziel's apartment building at 2:36 a.m. on Nov. 22 -- the morning the Browns flew to Atlanta for their game the following day against the Falcons.

Manziel said the fan approached him and a friend of his in an aggressive and inebriated manner. The fan said he wanted to greet Manziel.

"I would like to apologize for approaching you the way I did," Gonos wrote to Manziel in the apology. "All I ever wanted was to show love and give respect. What occurred that night was a huge misunderstanding. Never did I intend to escalate an altercation."

Gonos also apologized for "bringing a negative light to (Manziel's) name and reputation."

"I wish you the best," Gonos wrote, "and I'm ready for you to 'wreck this league.'"

The last statement was a reference to Manziel's draft-night text to the Browns urging the team to draft him.

Gonos told police he was assaulted by Manziel and "his entourage." The incident was reported from the Metropolitan at The 9 hotel/condo building in Cleveland. No arrests were made and Manziel was not listed as a suspect. He was not interviewed by police.

Manziel will make his first NFL start Sunday when the Browns (7-6), who have lost three of their last four games but are still in postseason contention, host the rival Bengals (8-4-1).