Mike Zimmer Calls Johnny Manziel’s Workout a “Sideshow”

Dec 31, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) celebrates defeating the Duke Blue Devils during the 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Texas A&M won 52-48. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports

Nearly everyone it seems was very impressed by Johnny Manziel’s Thursday morning pro day workout, including Ron Jaworski who called it “magnificent.”

I said nearly everyone, but not everyone. There has been at least one dissenting voice.

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer…was not impressed.

Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram got some reaction from Zimmer. The Vikings coach called the whole thing a “sideshow.” He said, “It was different. It was a different workout.”

Zimmer also told Williams, via Brian Smith of the Houston Chronicle, that the whole workout felt “choreographed.”

Zimmer’s remarks seem to touch on the surrounding atmosphere of the pro day as much as Manziel’s actual performance. Interestingly, there was also a report from Ed Werder about this very issue.

According to Werder, two unnamed coaches expressed concerns about the media circus, saying the environment Manziel creates is something teams “need to be aware of.”

It’s not entirely Manziel’s fault if this circus atmosphere tends to follow him, but at the same time, he doesn’t do much to stop it either.

In fact, some have suggested that Manziel likes the spotlight a little too much.

Now we have to wonder if Zimmer’s first-hand taste of the Manziel media hype hasn’t soured the head coach. It certainly seems that Zimmer was, at the very least, somewhat bemused by what he experienced.

The Vikings nevertheless are expected to meet with Manziel on Friday. Maybe a little quiet alone time with Johnny will sway Zimmer to his side.

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