The offseason exploits of Johnny Manziel are well documented. He is currently still dealing with an alleged domestic violence incident and simultaneously spending his Fourth of July week(end?) in Cabo, where he plans to go "completely sober" after spending a week in a huge mansion wearing a Josh Gordon jersey.
That is just the tip of the iceberg, and all of it has at least one person in the main NFL offices worried. NFL VP of Operations Troy Vincent, appearing on the Rob Maaddi Show with 610 Sports in Philadelphia Tuesday, said Manziel has "gotten out of control" and is "not returning phone calls."
"Well, Rob, as you can imagine, that's our greatest challenge and personally, the greatest fear. It's what you go to bed every night thinking how do you assist someone that's really not interested or quite frankly doesn't want to meet you halfway," Vincent said. "You can have all the resources and they're endless, confidential resources in your hometown, the individual club where the players or family members live. They're there. They're available. But if an individual is not willing to meet you halfway to get assistance, it's very difficult because it's something you can't make an individual do anything. In this particular case, it's obvious it's gotten out of control.
"You see his parents ... When a father speaks out about losing his son to potentially substance abuse, you know there's a problem. Johnny's not returning phone calls. He's in different states. You kind of see him, you get notice of where he is off social media and that's a challenge, but we won't stop. We'll continue to keep reaching out, letting Johnny know we love him, we care for him and we're here. When he's willing and wants and is able to accept assistance, we'll be there for him."
Vincent also said the NFL is "absolutely" still trying to reach out and get a hold of Manziel and try to get him help. The first-round pick was released by the Browns this offseason after a tumultuous two-year run in Cleveland that saw him promise to "wreck this league" and end up just mostly wrecking his life.
Vincent confirmed he has "personally been involved" in trying to get Manziel help and that the league "won't stop" trying to get the quarterback help.
"I've personally been involved. The Browns from ownership on down, general manager, head coach, their player engagement director, everyone. From our office, Dwight Hollier. Everyone has at least reached out. And, again, we won't stop," Vincent said. "We're just hoping that moment happens where Johnny is willing to accept some assistance and get the help that he really needs to just function as an individual. Forget football. But to really get his life turned around so that he can function as a good citizen and a good young man."
Vincent's point about getting back to life -- not football -- is exactly the sort of thing plenty of people have been saying. There's virtually no way Manziel is going to end up playing football for someone in 2016. He's too far down a path of destructing his football career in order to make up lost time and get on a roster.
The comeback he's talking about is ill-timed, especially when he's in a situation where his father is calling him a druggie and he's blatantly refusing the help of the myriad people trying to reign him in.
