The more new Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson talks, the more he seemingly foreshadows the organization severing ties with troubled quarterback Johnny Manziel and addressing its glaring need at the game’s most important position in the draft.
In the six radio interviews Jackson did last week, he made it clear he’s focused on finding a bona fide franchise quarterback for the Browns and suggested the Manziel era will end this offseason.
He emphasized those points further in a seventh interview Sunday with Ty Schalter and Jason Cole on SiriusXM’s Bleacher Report Radio channel.
“If there is a quarterback there at pick No. 2 or pick No. 32 [in this year’s draft] that we feel is the best option, the best fit for our organization, our football team, then we need to go get him,” Jackson said. “I do believe that this team does need a quarterback.
“Whether it was health issues or whatever it was last year, the position didn’t play great. Josh McCown played great when he was healthy and did some really good things. But we also know that he’s getting up there age-wise [36 years old], but this guy’s very competitive and done a great job.
“But I think what we need to do is look to the future and find what we think is going to be the best fit for us and go from there.”
The previous regime drafted Manziel 22nd overall in 2014, but Jackson has given every indication he has no interest in dealing with the personal problems and off-field behavior plaguing the former Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M University.
Manziel reportedly partied in Las Vegas the night of Jan. 2, three days after the Browns placed him in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Then owner Jimmy Haslam said Manziel failed to show up at team headquarters the morning of Jan. 3 for treatment the Browns require of players in the protocol. Manziel also didn’t attend the regular-season finale the afternoon of Jan. 3 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Jackson was asked whether it would be a “nonstarter” if Manziel fled to Vegas.
“Yes, it would be,” he replied. “Anytime things are not done the correct way with any player at any position would be a nonstarter with me.”
Anyone still questioning where Manziel stands with the organization should consider this: The Browns hired Jackson on Wednesday, and he said he still hadn’t talked to Manziel as of Sunday morning.
“I have not talked to Johnny yet,” Jackson said. “But I’m going to do everything I can to evaluate him first and foremost just like I would any other player on our team, from our top player down to whoever the last player is on our roster to give everybody a fair opportunity.
“Now, there’s criteria that we’re going to look at to determine if the players really need to be here or if they’ve earned the right to be here to be considered a Cleveland Brown.”
On Friday, Jackson told the team’s radio show he had been in contact with several players. Manziel isn’t among them.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have conversations on the phone via talking or texting with several guys,” Jackson said. “I had two guys come into the building today, and that was exciting to break down the offense and talk to them. I wanted them to know my door is always open. … I want to get a hold of every guy on this team and talk to them and tell them about what we’re trying to accomplish and the excitement that we need to have here.”
Jackson also indicated Friday during an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he does not want to pair himself with Manziel.
“Outside of all of the physical characteristics that we look for in a quarterback, the thing I’m looking for is a guy that’s going to be the face of the franchise, somebody that our players can rally behind, somebody that our fans can rally behind, that they believe that this guy has a chance to go out week in and week out and win games, a guy that can help elevate this football team, not anybody that’s going to tear it down because I think it’s too hard in the National Football League to have a guy like that,” Jackson said. “[The quarterback needs to be] all-consumed with one thing: being the best quarterback he can be and being the best leader he can be. That’s the kind of guy I’m looking for.”
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