If you want to know Merril Hoge’s thoughts on Johnny Manziel, he’s probably more than willing to give them to you.
The ESPN analyst went all-in with his critcism of Manziel on Monday morning, calling the Cleveland Browns quarterback “reckless” after Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets.
Manziel didn’t start the season opener but was called into action when starting quarterback Josh McCown went down with a concussion. Manziel came in and played OK, completing 13 of 24 passes for 182 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 35 yards on five carries, but it was Manziel’s decision-making — including the late interception — that had Hoge throwing haymakers on Monday morning’s “SportsCenter.”
Hoge’s criticism of Manziel is nothing new, and it seems to be borderline personal. Hoge hammered Manziel’s mechanics last September ahead of the quarterback’s rookie season and also called Manziel’s character into question, labeling him a “juvenile punk.”
H/t to SportsGrid
Thumbnail photo via Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports Images
