RIP Money Manziel...Johnny Football Retires The Money Sign

PFT – Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel said today that he’s done with the money sign, which had been his trademark celebration since his days as a Heisman Trophy winner at Texas A&M.

“The money sign will not be back. I will not be making it,” Manziel said.

That’s because Manziel thinks it’s time for him to grow up and move on from a rough rookie season that saw him struggle on the field and end up in alcohol rehab.

“Last year is last year, it was what it was and it was not very good,” Manziel said. “So for me, I’m trying to close that chapter and just build on what I’ve done so far this year and just move forward, and try to close that chapter in my life. Not one that I’m very proud of, not one that I want to look back on very much and dwell on, that’s for sure.”

The Browns want Manziel to grow up. His comments today indicate that he has.

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First, months of rehab. Then a move to the suburbs. Now, retiring the famous money sign celebration.

Which begs the question…is a Johnny Football without booze, the city party life and the money sign even a Johnny Football at all?

Seems to me we’ve got an identity crisis on our hands. A kid coming off a nightmare rookie season and a brutal wake up call having his confidence shaken and desperately trying to reinvent himself. Backing off social media, backing off partying, just going to the beach with his girlfriend and slugging water bottles at baseball games and playing golf on his neighborhood course up in suburbia. The attitude change has been shocking to say the least, from college rockstar to basically a middle aged father of 3. That swagger and cockiness and confidence was exactly what made him a star in the first place. It’s what made him Johnny Football. Now he’s slowly but surely becoming just John Manziel, the undersized backup NFL quarterback.

Remembering the good times…not crying because they’re over…smiling because they happened…

PS – Chances Football gets put in a game due to injury this season, rips off a vintage 75 yard touchdown run, has the crowd going nuts and throws the most savage money celebration in everyone’s face from the back of the end zone? Strong to very strong.