It’s been over a decade since Johnny Manziel played football for the Cleveland Browns. But there is still no love lost between Manziel and folks in Cleveland, like radio host Tony Rizzo.
Manziel was famously drafted in the first round by the Browns as their next hopeful franchise savior after winning the Heisman Trophy at Texas A&M. But like many Cleveland quarterbacks before and since, his tenure with the franchise was a disaster. He started just eight games across two seasons before being waived by the Browns after a combination of off-field troubles and on-field struggles. Incredibly, he never took another NFL snap, floating around the CFL for a few years before playing in something called Fan Controlled Football.
But even though it’s been so many years, neither side will soon forget what happened between Johnny Manziel and the city of Cleveland. In an interview with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson on their Nightcap show, Manziel said he hopes the Browns go 0-16 every year because of his hard feelings towards the franchise. That drew an exasperated response from ESPN Cleveland host Tony Rizzo.
Although the interview took place last September, Rizzo responded to a clip that recently went viral. And all he did was ask Manziel why he hates the Browns so much after they gave him his opportunity in the NFL.
“What did anyone do for you except root for you to win, and when it went south, ok, that’s how it goes. Ask Baker. 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,” Rizzo asked.