Why the Odds Are Stacked Against Johnny Manziel
The football standout shouldn't be happy about being chosen with the 22nd pick.
May 9, 2014— -- intro: Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, one of college football’s most popular players, was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 22nd pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
The projected top-10 pick had to wait three hours before he was finally picked Thursday, adding suspense and drama to the evening.
Following the selection, Manziel – nicknamed “Johnny Football” – said he’ll remember the teams that skipped him.
“I’m going to take a very aggressive mindset into it,” Manziel said. “I’m going to work extremely hard to get what I want, and I know what that is. I want to win, and I want to be successful. The amount of time I put in and the heart I put into this, which I know I'm capable of doing, will tell the tale.”
Manziel, who won the 2012 Heisman trophy as college football’s best player, has the tools to be a successful NFL player, matching running speed with passing awareness. But despite his talent, Manziel enters the professional ranks under an ominous omen – his draft position. Quarterbacks selected 22nd over the past few decades have struggled, especially those drafted by the Cleveland Browns.
Here’s a look at the QBs selected No. 22 in the NFL Draft since 2003.
quicklist: 1category: Quarterbacks selected No. 22title: 2012: Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Brownsurl:text: The 2012 NFL Draft is known for its strong quarterback class, including Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill, Russell Wilson and Nick Foles. All five of those quarterbacks have led their teams to the playoffs, and Wilson’s Seahawks won the Super Bowl in February.
Cleveland, choosing 22nd, could have selected Wilson or Foles – Luck, Griffin and Tannehill had already been selected – but instead took a chance on Weeden, then 28. The Oklahoma State University product previously played minor league baseball in the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers systems.
In his two seasons under center, Weeden recorded a 5-15 win-loss record for the Browns, throwing 23 touchdowns against 26 interceptions. He was benched and released, and now he serves as a backup on the Dallas Cowboys.
quicklist: 2category: Quarterbacks selected No. 22title: 2007: Brady Quinn, Cleveland Brownsurl:text: Brady Quinn was considered a franchise quarterback, a potential top-5 pick.
But on draft night, Quinn waited. And waited. And waited.
Eventually Cleveland selected him No. 22.
Quinn made his debut late in his rookie season, and midway through the 2008 campaign he was named Cleveland’s starting QB. He didn’t play poorly, but a broken finger kept him sidelined.
Inconsistent play has also kept Quinn sidelined, with the Notre Dame grad recording a career win-loss record of 4-16.
Quinn is now with his sixth NFL team, the Rams.
quicklist: 3category: Quarterbacks selected No. 22title: 2004: J.P. Losman, Buffalo Billsurl:text: Before 2004, the Buffalo Bills hadn’t selected a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft since 1983, when the team chose legendary passer Jim Kelly.
That’s pretty much where the Losman-Kelly combinations end.
Losman received starting opportunities in 2005, but the team benched him due to accuracy issues. He recovered to have a strong 2006 season, throwing for 3,051 yards and 19 touchdowns despite Buffalo’s offensive shortcomings.
But Losman struggled in subsequent seasons, and the Bills pursued other options under center.
Losman finally became a standout quarterback in 2009 – for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the now-defunct United Football League.
quicklist: 4category: Quarterbacks selected No. 22title: 2003: Rex Grossman, Chicago Bearsurl:text: Rex Grossman didn’t play much during his first NFL seasons due to injuries and inconsistent play.
In 2006, the Florida Gators product led Chicago to a 13-3 record and the Super Bowl, a 29-17 loss to the Colts.
But after leading the Bears to a 1-2 record to start the 2007 season, Grossman found himself on the sidelines again. Following his Bears tenure, he’s served as a backup QB for the Texans and later, the Redskins.
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