NFL NEWS

Report: Manziel drunk at practice

The Sports Xchange

February 09, 2016 at 11:56 am.

The Cleveland Browns named Johnny Manziel their starting quarterback on Tuesday just two weeks after he was banished to the bench for lying to the team about partying. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns named Johnny Manziel their starting quarterback on Tuesday just two weeks after he was banished to the bench for lying to the team about partying. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel, according to an NFL.com report, came to a late-season practice drunk and the Browns covered up the incident.

The website reported that the Browns “lied” about Manziel being drunk at a Wednesday practice late in the season.

“I was with a Browns player,” Mike Silver, an analyst for NFL.com said. “Johnny Manziel going into what would have been a start late in the season, showed up drunk at practice on a Wednesday.

“The Browns lied and said he was in the concussion protocol. Let me repeat that: the Browns lied to try and to protect, and I would argue enable, this irresponsible and very troubled young man.”

CBSSports.com said former coach Mike Pettine, when asked during the season, denied Manziel had been drunk at practice.

Manziel is being investigated of allegations of domestic violence due to the incident that occurred in the early-morning hours of Jan. 30.

Colleen Crowley, his ex-girlfriend, was hit so hard by the embattled quarterback that she suffered a ruptured left eardrum, her attorney told a Dallas television station on Monday.

The Browns have already announced they plan to part ways with Manziel, who has been a constant distraction during two seasons with the team. The Browns plan to release Manziel in March.

“We’ve been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field,” Browns executive vice president for football operations Sashi Brown said last week. “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.”

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