Johnny Manziel Still Playing the Blame Game With Cleveland Browns

Johnny Manziel clearly hasn’t gotten the memo that it’s 2025, not 2015. The former Cleveland Browns quarterback decided to grace the “Nightcap” podcast with his presence recently, serving up a steaming hot plate of grievances about his NFL career that ended almost a decade ago. And honestly? The whole thing feels about as stale as week-old pizza.

The “It’s Everyone Else’s Fault” Tour Continues

Manziel dropped his latest truth bomb on the podcast, declaring he’ll “hate the Browns forever” and wants them to go 0-16 every season. (Apparently, nobody told him there are 17 games now, but who’s counting?) His reasoning? Cleveland didn’t provide him with the proper support system during his tumultuous two-year stint from 2014-15.

“Was Cleveland the best situation for me to go to?” Manziel said rhetorically. “Did they help me, knowing all the things they knew about me, with all the research and everything, did they put me in the best situation? Absolutely not.” The former Heisman Trophy winner went full scorched earth, adding, “No love for the Browns, I’m rooting for 0-16 seasons every season.”

When Reality Bites Back

The response from Cleveland media was swift and brutal. Sports analyst Daryl Ruiter didn’t mince words on social media, saying the following: “Johnny Manziel can hate Cleveland and the Browns all he wants. Here’s the bottom line: his failure is on him. He was the one who partied too much. He was the one who came to the facility unprepared daily. He was the one who disrespected an organization and fanbase that put their faith in him.”

The Mirror Doesn’t Lie

Nobody’s arguing that the Browns were a model organization during Manziel’s tenure. They were cycling through coaches faster than a Vegas dealer shuffles cards, and their quarterback development program was about as effective as a chocolate teapot. But here’s the thing that seems lost on Manziel – every successful quarterback faces adversity.  Manziel didn’t come across well in his Netflix documentary, either blaming everyone but himself.

The Cleveland Redemption Arc Manziel Missed

Since he left Cleveland, the Browns have actually figured things out. They’ve made multiple playoff appearances, built a competitive roster, and created a culture that players want to be part of. Meanwhile, Manziel has bounced around various leagues, media appearances, and now podcast tours, still nursing decade-old wounds.

The organization moved on. The fans moved on. Hell, even some of the coaches from that era have moved on. But Johnny Manziel? He’s still stuck in 2015. Cleveland’s current QB situation is a mess, but there are better options now than Manziel ever was during his time in Cleveland.

What Success Actually Looks Like

Here’s what makes Manziel’s continued blame game so frustrating – he had everything you could want in a quarterback prospect. The arm talent, the mobility, the college pedigree, and yes, even the opportunity. The Browns drafted him 22nd overall, not 222nd. They invested significant resources in his development.

But success in the NFL isn’t just about physical gifts. It’s about preparation, dedication, and professionalism. It’s showing up to work ready to get better every single day. Manziel did not try and will forever go down as a classic example of wasted potential in NFL history.

Moving Forward (Finally)

Johnny Manziel still has time to change his narrative, but with comments like that, it’s clear he is never going to change. Until he realizes his mistakes, he’ll remain stuck in this endless cycle of resentment, victim blaming, and claiming to be the victim when he’s not. The Browns have moved on. Their fans have moved on. Maybe it’s time Manziel did the same.