Johnny Manziel reignited his contentious relationship with Cleveland on Wednesday, engaging in a verbal exchange with ESPN Cleveland radio host Tony Rizzo.
Rizzo questioned Manziel's continued animosity towards the city and the Browns organization, the team that selected him as the No. 22 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. "What did anyone do for you except root for you to win, and when it went south, OK, that’s how it goes," Rizzo said, referencing Manziel's tenure with the team. "Ask Baker [Mayfield]. But what, did someone hurt him? Is he a jilted lover? Was there an incident where somebody attacked him? Why the hate? Why the hate for the team that drafted you? Why?"
Manziel, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M, played two seasons with the Browns, appearing in 15 games with a 2-6 record in eight starts. He accumulated 1,675 total yards, with seven touchdown passes and seven interceptions. His time in Cleveland ended after he missed the final game of the 2015 season.
The 33-year-old Manziel responded to Rizzo on X, formerly Twitter, in a post that has since been deleted. "Rizz, you stupid c–t," Manziel wrote. "These comments were made in October of last year but of course you bored homos in the Cleveland media have nothing to speak about because your quarterback stopped banging massage therapists and you can only speak about losing so much to all of the people that listen to this trash ass show."
Manziel's remarks referred to current Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who faced 26 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and misconduct during massage sessions. Watson was not criminally indicted. His NFL career since joining the Browns has been marked by injuries and declining performance, with fewer than 1,149 passing yards in three seasons and 19 touchdown passes.
Manziel, who has since played in the CFL, the AAF, and the Fan-Controlled Football League, asserted that his time in Cleveland was set up for failure. "My tenure in Cleveland was doomed by a lot more people than just be[sic]," Manziel stated. "I’ve taken plenty of responsibility for my failures in that building and in that city. Tom Brady couldn’t have won with our roster from 2015. Just move on, f—k off and leave me out of this bullshit."