Since bursting onto the scene as the CFB phenom and Texas A&M QB who defeated the power house University of Alabama. In a summer that has been filled with great sports Documentaries, especially ones surrounding both NFL/College football...this one was fucking awesome. I have always been a Johnny Manziel homer, and was pumped to see what he would do for the Cleveland Browns, but getting a deeper look into the fame and struggles he experienced is extremely well done.
"JFF....Johnny Fucking Football wassup"- Johnny Manziel
The most recent Netflix "Untold" Documentary depicts the rise and fall of Johnny Manziel. Obviously his NFL career didn't live up to the hype of his College Football career had anticipated. This documentary goes a lot deeper than his on the field play. Growing up in Texas football is everything. "You're either too big of a pussy to play, or you're just not good enough, it's that simple"- JFF
It was different to see Manziel wearing #3 when he played high school ball, but 3 goes hard in terms of numbers QB's wear....however it's no, #2.
Coming from a militaristic HS, to the blue collar University of A&M... Manziel found himself in trouble right away, getting into a fight before camp and producing a fake idea. Came into of his freshman year right to get the shine and flounder in his opening start....which led to for sale signs in his college house front yard. He put an end to that quick.
Turning up in his next 3 games, having 15 total touchdowns. "Win or lose...we always booze".
As they continued to to climb the standings of the SEC his rookie year, Manziel decided to enjoy Halloween his freshman year in a ridiculous Scooby-Doo costume and a couple of broads on his arm....not a big deal.
Show up to his walk through the next day before they played Mississippi St, dripping sweat, only to follow up his hangover with another career performance.
Then came the infamous Alabama game, in which Manziels life would change on November 10th, 2012. "Fuck Nick Saban, Fuck Alabama" I remember sitting on my couch in college with my roommates enjoying some ice cold natural lights, and at half time I said Manziel was the best show on turf that college season. I proceed to go on DHgate.com and order a Manziel A&M jersey which came 3 months later with the adidas logged sewed on backwards.
"I walked off that field like a fucking G" - JFF
2012 what a time, one of the best QB's in the nation rocking wired headphones...poor!
It has been talked about for years, but that game changed his life over night. Had to enroll in online classes after that, the University team store began selling his jersey after that game, the autograph signings, and the Heisman Trophy. Manziel was the first freshman to ever the award.
The money the Manziel brought to Texas A&M just from his name and likeness is actually mind blowing. An estimated $37 million in free publicity from Manziel winning the Heisman. The donations sky rocketed to the university all because of Johnny's success. Which led to renovations to Kyle Field, as well as the heated rivalry of Manziel vs the NCAA. This has obviously since changed in the NCAA, with college athletes being able to sign NIL deals.
Johnny was tired of not getting his cut of the Adidas jersey sales, and the money pouring into A&M, and received an offer to sign autographs which started at $3,000 - but soon led to monthly trips to Miami in which he was totaling up to $100,000 in these signings. Sitting court side, having Drake talking about him on ESPN, meeting a laundry list of A list celebrities, he was taking the world by storm....until the NCAA got involved.
Which led to Johnny being suspended....for half a game...against Rice University lmao.
"Fuck your practice...I'm the best player in the country...I am a shark in fish tank"
Finished his sophomore year with an 8-4 record, and it was clear the hype and money had gotten to him because his follow up season did not compare to his rookie year.
I was not aware of how before the combine Johnny football decided to break his sobriety the weekend before the combine and party in the Hills of Cali. Unsure if he would pass a drug test, Manziel continues to crush his combine interviews, only to begin his slow demise. Fast forward to the 2014 NFL draft....in which he plummeted and passed on by 24 teams, and my close personal friend, Blake Bortles was the first QB selected that year at #3 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Cleveland Browns Saga:
He was given the keys to the city and the spot to battle for a starting QB spot in Cleveland. "If he wanted to do it, he had the skill set to do it, he just never wanted it bad enough"- Kliff Kingsbury
He watched 0 hours of film. ZERO. His love for the game quickly diminished the second he stepped foot into the Browns facility. "I was supposed to be the savior, but I just want to have a good day". His time with the Browns is old news.
Post Football Life:
Let's get serious for a moment and talk about the hardships. Manziel is extremely open and direct when it comes to talking about the relationship with ex girlfriend Colleen Crowley, and some of the domestic abuse allegations and incidents that occurred while the two of them were dating.
Mentions how he began heavily using cocaine and popping oxys, going from 215 pounds to 175 in a nine months, and no he wasn't dropping weight from eating clean and doing extra cardio. "Full blown I'm going to rub this in your fucking face mode".
"I was diagnosed with Bi-polar and I felt like it was the same as being called an alcoholic of drug addict". I can personally speak to that feeling. I was diagnosed bi-polar in February of 2021, and it is in a sense, world shattering news you do not know how to process. Especially in todays age, where mental health is extremely prominent, you would think it would be more easily accepted when Manziel was diagnosed. He had the freedom, the money, and the world at his finger tips to do and please as he wanted. Speaking from experience, hard drug use and drinking from a bottle of 1942 tequila is not recommended when Bi-polar. This is a disaster for anyone in that position.
He also then had to hear the mental health haters on twitter and social media..."But Johnny what do you have to be sad about, you're rich and famous". Money doesn't buy happiness people. "Direct self sabotage, to spend as much money as I could, and then take my life". Love him or hate him, people fuck up in their lives, and they have to deal with the consequences, but there is no reason to hate on someone when they are struggling internally.
"It's been a long, long road, and I don't know if it's been great or it's been bad -- that's kind of still up for debate," said Paul Manziel.
"But we're blessed. And he's still with us. And we can mend all the fences still. I think Johnny's got a lot better days coming than what he's had."
I respect Johnny for being able to sit down with Netflix and film this documentary and be able to share his story, the ups, the downs, and everything in between. People go through huge struggles in life and hope to see him come out better for it. Had to cop some #MoneyManziel merch last night when he dropped it.
