Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
The rumor mill strikes again. To say the offseason for reigning Heisman Trophy winner and Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel has been rife with controversy and salacious headlines would be a colossal understatement. The latest rumor claim is coming from Barstool Sports who show “Johnny Football” photographed next to what they are claiming to be a bong.
Via Barstool, Johnny Manziel taking a hit of weed pic.twitter.com/BfaqQfOYCm
— SportsBlogNewYork (@SportBlogNYC) July 27, 2013
There are no pictures that show Manziel is actually smoking the bong, that is, if this is in fact a bong which is difficult to tell from the image, and I believe it is more Manziel-mania overreaction.
He has been his biggest enemy and has routinely put himself in the limelight and the subject of tabloid and social media rumors. Therefore, he has lost the benefit of the doubt, but if you’re like me, you’re drunk on Manziel coverage and are ready to see the dazzling playmaking quarterback on the field.
I don’t care if he got kicked out of a frat party, told a white lie to his mom about his whereabouts the night before he was booted from the Manning passing academy or doing some underage imbibing. It is none of our business, and no different than what the majority of college students are doing.
He is a normal 20-year-old. He is famous for playing football, so can’t we just give the overblown coverage of Manziel a break until the Aggies are back on the practice field?
He may as well change his nickname from Johnny Football to Johnny Rumor, because people are watching and waiting for him to screw up as the pictures from Barstool Sports suggest.
Patrick’s a college football writer for Rant Sports and radio host on Sportstownchicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickASchmidt and add him to your Google network.
