Oh, snap…
It’s never good when NFL Hall of Famers are calling you out…particularly if you haven’t even taken an NFL snap yet.
But the hard-partying, hard-living lifestyle of Johnny Manziel are already getting him some sideways looks from guys who know a thing or two about how to survive and thrive in the National Football League.
Manziel was expected to be a top pick in last month’s NFL Draft, but saw his stock tumble all the way down to the Cleveland Browns and the number 22 pick.
And according to former Dallas Cowboys great Emmitt Smith, the fastlane lifestyle favored by the young quarterback could put him on the fast-track right out of the league.
In an interview with CBS Dallas radio Tuesday (reported by Crave sports site NESN), Smitt said of Manziel:
“That lifestyle is going to be a short lifestyle — a short career lifestyle — if he continues that…As we used to say, you can’t keep burning the candle at both ends of the stick. The candle gets small fairly quick. So, Johnny is going to have to figure it out….Hopefully he’s not doing anything to hurt himself outside of drinking, which is going to harm his body and harm his performance anyway, but at the end of the day, he’s going to have to learn to manage those things.”
In fairness, Manziel’s been a model rookie Browns mini-camps so far, so Smith’s warnings are just that — warnings.
But it’s never good when a player reknowned for his heart and desire starts questioning yours. Good luck, Johnny Football.
