Johnny Manziel’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, who had long been one of the few people in the troubled quarterback’s corner, announced today in a statement that he has terminated his relationship with his client. This comes on the heels of a fuller account from the police down in Texas about what transpired last weekend as Manziel’s exgirlfriend claimed that Manziel struck her, appeared to be on drugs, and made references to killing himself and her.
Burkhardt’s decision comes at the same time Manziel’s own family worries about the 23 year old. Via the Dallas Morning News: “Johnny Manziel’s family is concerned for his well-being, but the NFL quarterback has twice declined to be admitted to area rehabilitation facilities in the last week, according to his father, Paul Manziel.
“I truly believe if they can’t get him help, he won’t live to see his 24th birthday,” Paul Manziel told The Dallas Morning News.”
Burkhardt’s sobering statement is below.
This article appears in Feb 3-9, 2016.
There is plenty of blame that should land on the desk of Johnny’s last major enabler — Jimmy Haslam. From day one, the Browns front office made it clear to local media members that Manziel was not obligated to talk with them….and Haslam then proceeded to permit Manziel to split the locker room and poison the coaching staff. And as late as last week, ol’ Jimmy confidently told reporters that the club’s relationship with Manziel was fixable. No matter what happens on – or before – March 9, Haslam has made sure that the brief Johnny Football Era will forever define the history of the Cleveland Browns.
Sing to the tune of Ozzy Osbourne’s Mr. Crowley:
Dear Miss Crowley
Filing charges, I see
And goodbye Johnny
And now Cleveland is free!
The douchebag just busted your eardrum
And the judge gave him Hell
Twelve thousand in legal ain’t humdrum
Protection order as well!
Oh, Dear Miss Crowley
He has to stay far away
And as for Johnny
He will no longer play!
The moment I heard Haslem say the relationship with Johnny was fixable I immediately thought, “there goes all the offseason positives we’ve done, this is the same old Browns and we’re doomed.” Well, since then we’ve announced we’re going to cut ways with him, his agent has done so, as has his marketing company and pretty much everyone else in his life. The kid needs to get his life in order, but he doesn’t seem to be in any hurry or even wants to.