They came from far and wide, 13 kings of the 32 royal NFL kingdoms, to see the fallen prince attempt to make a comeback after blowing his NFL opportunity on ego, immaturity and lack of control.
Johnny Manziel had a Pro Day less than a month after proclaiming that he was a new man and had shed all of the ills of his past. The 25-year-old former Heisman winner put his skills on display in hopes that someone would take a chance on him.
When Johnny Football took down Alabama | SportsCenter | ESPN
Revisit Texas A&M’s upset of No. 1 Alabama in 2012 and the game that turned Johnny Manziel into a legend.
The reviews were positive, but the response from people of color was outrage, because Colin Kaepernick is being blackballed from the NFL because of his commitment to improving the world and Manziel, a guy who has been accused of domestic violence, drug use and other lawlessness, still has enough juice to get 13 NFL teams to come see him throw.
Kap cant even get a phone call. Its clear that NFL owners are intent on keeping him out of the game and using him as a symbol of what happens when players use their platforms to express their social and political views.
Kaepernick is the Black man hanging from a rope on a tree just as you enter certain southern towns back in the ’40s and ’50s. Hes the caution sign the NFL uses for prospective anthem protesters and rabble rousers.
It isnt fair, and reeks of racism and white privilege, but Manziel says his situation shouldnt be compared to Kaepernick. Manziel expressed support for Kaepernick on Saturday and said hes tired of outside comparisons about the two quarterbacks, posting a flurry of messages on Twitter.
Johnny Manziel on Twitter
I rock with you @Kaepernick7 you’ve always been good to me and I appreciate that. All the best in your journey my friend wherever that takes you
Johnny Manziel on Twitter
The facts of the matter are the reason he’s not being signed are non football based. The guy took a team to the Super Bowl and continuously wreaked havoc on the NFC West and the league. Maybe he had a bad year two years ago but he’s not a bad player and that’s a fact..
At the same time, Manziel stressed that he has nothing to do with Kaps situation and hes currently working on himself.
Johnny Manziel on Twitter
In my opinion the guy still has a lot in the tank but it’s not my place to say what he wants to do with his career. All I can speak for is myself and trying to turn my life around from the depths it was in.
Manzil tweets that he is tired of the comparison
Johnny Manziel on Twitter
Standing up for people who often don’t get heard and for a race that continually deals with problem after problem in this country for CENTURIES. This world we live in is absolutely crazy and I believe what he’s doing has an amazing impact.
In reality, he knows that hes not worthy of such a comparison. Kaepernick is a titan. Manziel was a spoiled, privileged kid who never grew up and squandered the key to the world with his barrage of off-field incidents.
Johnny Manziel on Twitter
This will probably cause an uproar, but I’m tired of the @Kaepernick7 vs myself comparisons and anger. Kap is doing amazing things right now changing lives and donating millions of dollars. His impact off the field from a societal standpoint is legendary and straight admirable.
Johnny Football hasnt played in the NFL since 2015 and took part in the University of San Diego’s pro day on Thursday. He told Bruce Feldman of Sports Illustrated he’s been sober for 90 days and hasn’t used “hard drugs or anything like that” for approaching a year.
He added he understands teams will be skeptical about his comeback attempt after his previously hard-partying ways.
“When I first got in the league, did I have some leeway? Sure I did, but I have exhausted all leeway and all second chances,” Manziel said. “This isn’t the second chance. This is the 35th chance. This is the last of the last chances to show people that I’ve made a drastic change in my life, and it’s for the better and I’m happy with where I’m at.”
If anyone understands second chances its Manziel. And the fact that teams would be going out of their way to consider signing a dude with such questionable character and leadership skills, who has never performed on the NFL stage, while attempting to paint Kaepernick’s valiance and unselfishness as a detriment to the game or a poison to their franchise is puzzling, sickening and downright scary.
Wheres the logic in that? The owners are sending a terrible message to the children of our country by continuing to blackball Kaepernick, who is an American hero to people of color and others, but continuing to give second chances to players who have done some unforgivable things off the field.
If you stand for something and care about the state of the world, then you are not welcome in the NFL.
Manziel may not have anything to do with Kaepernick’s situation, but it’s an example of the inequity in opportunities between white Americans and blacks, which makes him part of the problem.
