CLEVELAND — Johnny Manziel is back at work after a holiday weekend in Las Vegas. And when you’re Johnny Football, what happens in Vegas doesn’t necessarily stay in Vegas.
The Browns’ celebrated rookie quarterback reported for organized team activities Tuesday following a few days in Vegas, where he kicked off his summer by hanging poolside with New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, attended a UFC fight and was captured on video spraying champagne on patrons in a nightclub.
And, according to Manziel, he found time to study his new playbook.
Following his first practices with Cleveland’s veterans last week, Manziel took advantage of a break in the workouts to head to Las Vegas. On Saturday, a photo of him and Gronkowski, surrounded by other partiers, appeared on several social media sites. Later, Manziel posted a photo on his Twitter account of him standing with UFC President Dana White along with a thank-you note.
Although this was all done on his free time, and Manziel didn’t commit a crime or have any known issues, his actions raised eyebrows in some circles about his commitment to playing in the NFL. He seemed to fire back at any criticism by posting a photo on his Instagram account Monday night of his Browns playbook and iPad with the caption: “Guess it’s impossible to enjoy the weekend and study?”
Manziel, who was selected with the No. 22 overall pick by the Browns after sliding in the first round, is expected to challenge Brian Hoyer for the starting job. Last week, first-year Browns coach Mike Pettine said Manziel was having typical problems for a young player.
“It’s like any other rookie, that he’s just inconsistent,” Pettine said. “I think a lot of it’s the mental part of it. He’s more worried about getting the formation right, making sure the motion is correct, and he’s got the cadence. Then, he’s got to worry about where guys are. Being good mechanically takes a back seat to learning the system first. I think you see over the maturation process, once all that stuff becomes second nature, that he’ll be a lot more comfortable.”
Steelers’ Pouncey happy to be back after lost 2013
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey is back at work.
Pouncey joined his teammates on the field during organized team activities Tuesday, more than eight months after a right knee injury sidelined him for the 2013 season.
The three-time Pro Bowler said he had no problem during the workout and is thrilled to get back to football. He is expected to anchor an offensive line, which struggled staying healthy last season while the Steelers went 8-8.
Pouncey joked he’d never been hit the way he was hit by teammate David DeCastro in the 2013 opener against Tennessee. DeCastro fell on Pouncey eight plays into the game, tearing two ligaments in Pouncey’s left knee in the process.
There were only two no-shows during the first day of OTAs, with cornerback Ike Taylor and safety Troy Polamalu choosing to work out elsewhere.
Clowney, Watt on field for Texans
Defensive standouts J.J. Watt and No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney were on the field for the first time in Houston on Tuesday.
The Texans are hoping the two wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks this season.
Clowney says he is going to watch Watt closely as the former NFL defensive player of the year prepares for the season.
Standout wide receiver Andre Johnson was absent from the session. One of the franchise’s marquee players, Johnson said two weeks ago that he would not attend Texans workouts.
Thomas may get shot as Seahawks punt returner
RENTON, Wash. — Apparently Earl Thomas’ $40 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks did not mean fewer responsibilities on his plate.
Next up for the All-Pro free safety: punt returning?
Don’t scoff. Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday after the first organized team activity of the Seahawks’ offseason program that Thomas would be the first up as punt returner right now. That all could change by the time the Sept. 4 season opener against Green Bay arrives. But for now, the job is Thomas’ to lose.
The question of who will return punts after the departure of Golden Tate in free agency is one of the few the Seahawks must answer this offseason. Tate was a standout for Seattle in that role, but he left for bigger money from Detroit during free agency.
By wire sources