Browns RB Ben Tate: Attention paid to Johnny Manziel 'annoying'

Ben Tate has 1,992 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 40 career games. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Browns running back Ben Tate should be used to being overshadowed, as he was Arian Foster's backup with the Texans.

But the 25-year-old insists that isn't the reason he called all the attention being paid to Johnny Manziel "annoying" on Tuesday.

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"I feel like it," Tate said when asked if Manziel receives too much attention, according to ESPN.com's Pat McManamon. "He hasn't played a down in the NFL yet. So ... I don't know ... That's for y'all to figure out.

"It's just as a player I know that I would get tired if people were constantly monitoring if I picked my nose, if I spit to the left or right," Tate added. "I mean, it's annoying. He's a human being.

"He's a great football player, so I understand why he gets some of the constant media attention. At the same time, I just figure at this stage he's tired of it and he wants to come in here and do his job and try to win the starting quarterback position."

Manziel did not speak to the media on Tuesday but has said he doesn't understand the attention, either.

Tate, who threw out the first pitch at the Indians' game against the Red Sox, later defended his comments on Twitter.

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