Once upon a time, the Cleveland Browns had high hopes for former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.
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Hoping to end a lengthy playoff drought, the Browns selected Manziel in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft with hopes that he could be the future face of the franchise.
That vision never materialized, however, as Manziel battled alcoholism during his brief stint in Cleveland and was out of the league entirely just two years after being drafted.
Despite Cleveland being his lone NFL stop, Manziel expressed disdain for the organization last September, saying that he will "hate them forever" during a podcast appearance.
"I think I will always be looked at because of how much hype and media that was around me. And the city of Cleveland expecting me to be great, and that ultimately not panning out," Manziel said. "I sit here today and I'm like, 'F-ck it, I think I'm going to be pissed at them and hate them forever.' So, it is what it is. No love for the Browns. I'm rooting for 0-16 seasons every season."
Months later, ESPN Cleveland radio host Tony Rizzo addressed Manziel's comments and seemingly defended the Browns' support of the failed NFL prospect.
"What did anyone do for you except root for you to win? When it went south, okay, that's how it goes. 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?" Rizzo asked.
Manziel Sounds Off on Cleveland Radio Host
Manziel didn't mince words in his response to Rizzo.
"Rizz, you stupid c-t," Manziel wrote on X in a since-deleted post. "These comments were made in October of last year. But of course you bored h—s 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 a— show."
Manziel added that not even Hall of Famers could have succeeded with the Browns roster he was drafted to.
"I've taken plenty of responsibility for my failures in that building and in that city," Manziel wrote. "Tom Brady couldn't have won with our roster from 2015. Just move on, f—k off and leave me out of this bullsh-t."
Manziel last played in the NFL in December 2015. He was later banned from the Canadian Football League in 2019.
