Johnny Manziel to the Minnesota Vikings? It’s actually possible
By Adam Patrick
The controversial quarterback is working on a comeback to the NFL and one team that could be interested in his services could be the Minnesota Vikings.
After selecting UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr with the ninth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings and general manger Rick Spielman had their eye on snagging another player in the first round that year. Believe it or not, that player was actually Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
The Vikings actually had Manziel graded higher on their draft board than Teddy Bridgewater in 2014 and the team even tried to make a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to select the polarizing quarterback with the 22nd pick. However, the Cleveland Browns gave the Eagles a better offer for their first-round selection and Manziel ended up being taken off the board by Cleveland.
Unable to land the former Texas A&M quarterback, Minnesota was still able to trade back into the first round and wound up selecting Bridgewater with the 32nd pick.
The Vikings will always say that Bridgewater was their preferred quarterback in the 2014 draft, but the truth is that it was actually Manziel.
Fast forward to 2018 and neither quarterback has started in a regular season game since 2015. Issues with substance abuse have kept Manziel off the field while Bridgewater has been recovering from a near catastrophic knee injury he suffered in 2016.
Bridgewater is expected to be a free-agent this offseason, but there seems to be a good chance that he will return to Minnesota. Is it possible that Manziel could join him?
On Monday, Johnny Manziel revealed on ABC’s Good Morning America that he is no longer drinking and he is taking medication to treat his bipolar disorder that he was diagnosed with during the past year. When asked if he can keep up with his semi-new way of life that doesn’t involve him being drunk on TMZ every other week, the former NFL quarterback believes it is very possible.
"“I would like to sit here and say, yes, and I have a lot of confidence that would be the case.”"
Manziel also appeared on the Pardon My Take podcast on Monday and talked more about what he’s been doing lately to try and get back into the league.
"“The only thing I have on my plate right now is working out six days a week and playing a little golf on the side, trying to just keep myself in a good place, get away from some of the things I’ve been doing the last couple of years.”"
On the podcast, Manziel also said he no longer participates in the heavy partying lifestyle like he used to and he has eliminated a number of people from his inner circle of friends. He also mentioned that a few NFL teams showed interest in his services last year, but that things just weren’t able to work out.
Manziel is clearly taking the necessary steps for a team to at least give him a tryout sometime before next season. Based on the Vikings’ current quarterback situation, bringing Manziel in for a workout or adding him to the preseason roster does not seem too crazy of a thought to have.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota would not be bringing him to be the team’s starter. But Manziel is familiar with new Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and the system he runs from the time the two spent with the Browns in 2015.
DeFilippo also had plenty of nice things to say about the young quarterback during their time in Cleveland together.
The Vikings are an organization known for giving players a second chance too. As recent as this past season when Minnesota signed Michael Floyd to a one-year deal less than a year after the wide receiver plead guilty to an extreme DUI.
The Vikings’ locker room is made up of a bunch of solid-character guys, so it is totally an environment that would allow someone who’s attempting to better their life to flourish. Minnesota also would not add someone to their roster who they felt could evolve into a distraction.
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That may be the one thing that prevents the Vikings from ever bringing Manziel in for a workout. But the reward of the quarterback emerging as the player some envisioned him being when he was drafted in 2014 may be worth Minnesota actually taking a risk on the kid.