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Browns May Discipline Johnny Manziel Again

Fantasy Football
December 28, 2015

The Browns may be forced to discipline Johnny Manziel yet again after yet another video of him drinking has surfaced. Coach Mike Pettine hasn’t made a final decision yet, but he admits that the team could punish the quarterback after he was filmed on Christmas Eve guzzling a black cherry Four Loko.

Anytime there’s something with our players that casts them potentially in a bad light, whether it’s Johnny or any of our other guys, it’s certainly a concern,” said Pettine (via Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer). “I’m sure I’ll see it, I’ll have a discussion with him about it.”

Pettine indicated that the newest Manziel video is not as egregious as the one from earlier this year when Manziel was captured partying at a club in Austin, Texas. That incident got Manziel temporarily demoted from starter to third-string quarterback, though it was widely reported that the Browns were more upset about him lying about the event than the event itself.

These circumstances are different from the incident that occurred before,” said Pettine, who vowed to come down hard on Manziel if he stepped out of line again. “But I’m just not going to go into a ton of detail with it until I get a little bit more information about it, but it’s something that I’m sure privately we’ll discuss if it needs to be discussed.”

Manziel spent 73 days in an addiction treatment center in the offseason and it’s believed that his treatment plan calls for him to abstain from alcohol. Manziel rushed for 108 yards against the Chiefs on Sunday and, at times, looked strong, but the Browns also need to worry about the Texas A&M product’s behavior off the field. The Browns will likely finish with one of the top two picks in the 2016 draft and they’ll need to figure out whether to use that selection on a quarterback or ride with the troubled Manziel.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/28/15

Fantasy Football
December 28, 2015

Here are Monday’s practice squad updates from across the NFL:

Cleveland Browns

  • Cut: S De’Ante Saunders (story)

San Diego Chargers

  • Signed: G Michael Huey, G Craig Watts (press release via team)

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/28/15

Fantasy Football
December 28, 2015

Today’s minor NFL signings, cuts, and other moves:

  • The Patriots announced that they have released running back Joey Iosefa. Iosefa lasted only two weeks on the club’s active roster. He saw 14 carries against the Titans in Week 15 and ran for only 51 yards. His spot has ostensibly been usurped by the recently-added Steven Jackson.
  • The Steelers placed linebacker Roosevelt Nix on injured reserve, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
  • The Bills placed Marcus Easley on IR, as Wilson tweets. Back in March of 2015, the special teamer inked a four-year pact worth $7MM with the Bills. A sizable chunk of that money – $2.2MM – was guaranteed.

Manziel caught partying on Christmas Eve

Fantasy Football
December 28, 2015

Could get benched for off-field activities yet again

Johnny Manziel apparently didn’t learn the hard lesson he claimed he did from losing his starting job over the bye-week video. Another partying video from Christmas Eve surfaced Sunday, and it could land the Browns quarterback in hot water again.

In the 10-second video, Manziel is seen rapping, dancing and drinking what appears to be a black cherry Four Loko — an alcoholic beverage mixed with caffeine, taurine and guarana. His buddy in the video is double-fisting it with a can of Four Loko and a bottle of something else. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Nerdy Football Analysis: It is highly probable Manziel will not be HC Mike Pettine’s problem much longer; either the 2014 first-round pick will be released or traded, Pettine himself will get fired shortly after Sunday’s finale against the Steelers or both. Pettine promised the “repercussions would be harsh” if Manziel messed up again and, while he indicated this episode isn’t as egregious as the previous one, it is still a distraction.

Draft Notes: Collins, Clark, Howard

Fantasy Football
December 28, 2015

Defensive tackle Maliek Collins announced that he is entering the NFL Draft and foregoing his senior season at Nebraska, as Sam McKewon of the World-Herald writes.

It’s always been a dream of mine, and I got a good grade back (from the NFL’s draft advisory board),” Collins said when asked why he’s headed to the NFL one year early. “I talked it over with my teammates and I talked it over with Coach (Mike) Riley and it seems like the best decision for me.”

Collins, a team captain in 2015, racked up 29 total tackles with 2.5 sacks this season. Many have projected that Collins will go in the first round of the NFL Draft this season and his grade from the NFL draft advisory board likely supported that forecast.

Here’s the latest NFL Draft news:

  • UCLA Bruins junior defensive tackle Kenny Clark announced on Twitter that he will skip his senior year to declare for the draft. NFL talent evaluators are high on the 6’3″, 310-pound junior and he could wind up being a late first-round pick. Clark recorded a sack and season-high eight solo tackles in UCLA’s bowl loss to Nebraska on Dec. 26. For the season, he had 47 tackles and six sacks.
  • Indiana junior running back Jordan Howard announced that he will forego his senior season and enter the 2016 Draft. A first team All-Big Ten selection, Howard entered the bowl season second in the Big Ten with 134.8 rushing yards per game (9th nationally) and 146.6 all-purpose yards per game (15th). Injuries have been an issue for Howard in the past, but he is considered by some to be one of the five best tailbacks in this year’s class. One has to imagine that his medical exams will play a big factor in where he lands.
  • University of Miami junior cornerback Artie Burns announced that he has elected to forgo his final year of college eligibility and declare for the draft. “After considering all the options, and looking into my future, I feel it is in my best interest to forego my senior year and declare for the NFL Draft,” Burns said in a statement. “I can’t put into words what these past three years have meant to me in my development as a football player but even more importantly as a man.” Burns could wind up as a consensus top five corner in this year’s class depending on what others at his position do.
  • Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Cayleb Jones took to Twitter to announce that he is going pro. The 6’3″ athlete is rated as the No. 23 junior wide receiver prospect by NFLDraftScout.com and he appears to be taking a risk by jumping to the NFL. Jones originally committed to the Texas and played in 10 games as a frosh before transferring to Arizona and sitting out for one year. While at Texas, Jones picked up a felony assault charge that was ultimately reduced to a misdemeanor.
  • The Texas Longhorns announced that junior defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway has decided to go pro. An honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2015, Ridgeway played in 36 career games with 18 starts. In that time, he recorded 92 tackles with 9.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. Ridgeway is rated as the No. 5 nose tackle by WalterFootball.com and his stock could rise if any of the three underclassmen ranked ahead of him opt to stay in school.
  • Washington junior running back Dwayne Washington will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft, as Adam Jude of the Seattle Times writes. Washington did not play in UW’s final four games because of a knee injury, an issue which required minor surgery. The tailback started six games for UW this season and finished as UW’s second-leading rusher with 282 yards. His seven total touchdowns were also second-most on the team. Washington garnered attention in 2014 when he converted from wide receiver to running back, though his frame still looks like that of a receiver.