Browns GM Ray Farmer on Johnny Manziel: 'Words don't mean anything'
As expected, Johnny Manziel was a dominant topic in Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer's season-ending press conference on Tuesday.
Manziel apologized on Monday for missing treatment for his hamstring injury over the weekend, saying he overslept and denied that he threw a party on Friday that was widely reported to have caused wide receiver Josh Gordon to miss a team walk-through on Saturday. The Browns were in Baltimore for the season finale against the Ravens.
The rookie quarterback, who made two starts this season, expressed regret for the distractions and vowed to be accountable by living up to his words.
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Farmer supported Manziel's desire on Tuesday.
"I would tell you that the words don’t mean anything," he said, according to Ohio.com. "I’m not a big word guy. It’s all about action. I think that’s really where we’re at in time, and I think that’s for everybody. I think that’s what all of our players and our coaches and our staff, everybody with this organization want to see. That’s what our fans want to see. It’s about action."
Farmer added that he believes Manziel can still develop into a solid NFL starter. Manziel was No. 2 on the Browns' quarterback depth chart behind Brian Hoyer until Week 15, and appeared in only five games this season. He completed 51.4 percent of his passes for 175 yards and three interceptions.
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The Browns ended the season 7-9, losing six of their last seven games.
"I’d say to that end, we all have got to be patient," Farmer said. "I think there’s an opportunity for the guy to make changes. It’s up to him if he’s going to make those changes, but I think the talent is in his body to accomplish that."
- Mike Fiammetta
