NEW YORK — Johnny Manziel’s post-draft news conference at Radio City Music Hall was interrupted by some rowdy Cleveland Browns fans, chanting “Johnny Cleveland.”
Those fans, who Manziel described as “loyal” and die hard” earlier while he spoke to the media Thursday night, were quickly whisked away, but the reaction could have been larger had the Dallas Cowboys selected Johnny Football when he still was on the board at No. 16.
“I don’t know if the world could have handled that, honestly,” Manziel said about the possibility of being drafted by the Cowboys.
Manziel has a relationship with Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, but Dallas selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Zack Martin instead.
Manziel, who was expected to be drafted in the top 10, had to wait until No. 22 overall to be selected by the Browns. That number might make Browns fans shudder, since it’s the same selection that draft busts Brady Quinn and Branden Weeden were drafted by Cleveland.
“That’s a little bit of a trend,” Manziel said. “I don’t know what to say about that. It speaks for itself.”
The Browns fans in New York clearly weren’t bothered, however. After Manziel’s news conference was over, the chanting, which now included “Johnny Super Bowl,” started up again. Manziel welcomes a new era for the Browns.
