Browns Decide to Cut Johnny Manziel in March

Reports indicate that the Cleveland Browns intend to sever ties with troubled quarterback Johnny Manziel.

The Browns new director of football operations Sashi Brown released a statement indicating that the franchise was unhappy with Manziel’s conduct, but did not say the quarterback’s playing days were over in Cleveland.

According to ESPN, because of salary cap rules and regulations Manziel will likely be released in March.

The decision by the Browns comes on the heels of an incident last weekend in which police responded to an alleged assault in Fort Worth, Texas, involving Manziel and a woman. The NFL, as well as Dallas and Fort Worth police, investigate the episode.

The team’s statement reads: ”We’ve been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field. Johnny’s continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules. We will have no further comment at this time.”

Manziel, a former Heisman Trophy-winner out of Texas A&M, suffered a series of setbacks on the field and off the field since the Browns drafted him 22nd overall in 2014.

In two seasons with the Browns, Manziel appeared in 15 games. Of the eight that he started, the team won two games and lost six while he managed a dismal 74.4 quarterback rating. Off the field was much worse.  The immature quarterback suffered a series of curfew infractions and team rules violations during his stay. Manziel entered  Caron Treatment Center outside Reading, Pennsylvania, where he spent 10 weeks for undisclosed reasons.

Breitbart News reported in November that Manziel lost his brief starting quarterback role after cameras caught him partying and day drinking during his bye week. One month earlier police pulled the quarterback over for driving erratically on an interstate highway. Manziel smelled of booze and his girlfriend complained that he allegedly got physical with her. No discipline measures were exacted for his alleged behavior.