Johnny Manziel, fresh off his bye week, says he is “pumped” about the prospect of being the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback Monday night and for the rest of the season.
But he wouldn’t be Johnny Manziel if he hadn’t returned from a bye week with video of him partying in Austin hitting the internet. Bustedcoverage.com first published video from a DJ’s private Instagram page of Manziel partying at the Summit Rooftop Lounge on Friday night in Austin. Manziel, holding a bottle of what appears to be champagne, is singing and dancing with an Instagram caption that says, “Sippin on Dom Perignon for no reason with Johnny Manziel.” There’s a Vine of it here; the post has since been removed and the account is now private.
An Instagram photo on another account showed him at Austin’s RIO lounge and Cleveland.com confirmed that Manziel had been there Friday. On Monday, as he volunteered at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, he was asked about his bye week and the video.
Advertisement
“You know there’s all kinds of people that come out,” he said. “Videos can be old. Videos can be all kinds of different things. So like I said, I’m not in a state to be able to speak on it because my focus has been on this today and what really matters in this game on Monday. So that’s where my focus has been. I did get a chance to relax. So I haven’t seen anything like that, and I’m not going to be able to speculate on it right now.”
Manziel did not deny partying in Austin, Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot writes.
“I’ve been here for this [volunteer] event, and that’s really what I want to talk about, the things that are really important, not what I’m doing off the field,” he said. “It’s what we’re doing here in the community and what we’re doing to get ready for this game on Monday night. So that’s where my focus is, and I haven’t had my focus anywhere else. I know that.”
Advertisement
Manziel was clearly present at the Ohio State-Michigan State game Saturday. That much is certain.
“The bye week was great,” he said. “I got a chance to go to see the Ohio State-Michigan State game. For all of the Ohio people, I don’t think it went as well as they would’ve liked to but I got a chance to go back home for a little bit and come back early on Saturday and just get a chance to start looking over for the game and watched Baltimore play and obviously get kind of a jump on them and come here today and do this. I was very excited to do that.”
Manziel was cleared last week after the NFL investigated an incident involving him and his girlfriend. Manziel admitted having a couple of drinks before being pulled over by police for driving erratically. His girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, had bruises on her arm, but said Manziel tried to keep her from springing from the car. There was no arrest and she did not file a complaint.
Manziel will turn his attention this week to Monday night’s start.
“I’m pumped. I’m looking forward to this week of prep, getting a chance to get a day off on Thanksgiving. So much to be thankful for, but it’s a big week and I’m very excited to be back here and ready to go.”
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZLumw9JonJqqnK56rbHAnWawqF9nfXKBjmpoaGpkZLewtM2nsGalkaPHqrHLZqqasaNivKd5z5qprbGZo7RuwsidnKhlpp6xprvSZpqapl2Xsm67y51m