“I play the game with a lot of heart and a lot of passion that really is unrivalled. It’s the way I was brought up.” – Johnny Manziel

Brimming with football confidence and a strong football mind this 21year old already has a long list of accolades.

Johnny “Football” Manziel, the former quarterback for the Texas A&M, became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, Manning Award and the Davey Q’Brien National Quarterback Award. He also became the first freshman, and only the 5th player in NCAA history, to pass for 3.000 yards and rush for 1.000 yards in a single season.

Now he can also add being the Cleveland Browns 22nd overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft to his list.

The Bears have given Manziel the opportunity of becoming a franchise quarterback but he had to sit patiently for almost three hours in Radio City Music Hall before hearing his name. The Browns, who made two earlier trades, made a third with Philadelphia before they grabbed their man.

Manziel acknowledged Thursday night: “It was tough, but I went in there saying I thought whatever team drafted me, whatever team fell in love with me would be the right situation for me. The way that happened in college, the way everything’s worked out for me. I’m a firm believer in that. So a little bit of anxiousness, a little bit of nervousness, but at the same time, there’s a higher power that has a bigger plan for me.”

Known for his self-confident and cocky nature, his physical and mental toughness as well as his quick football mind which possesses the ability to improvise and scramble in the open field.

Manziel’s reputation was that of college football’s most dazzling and electrifying player on and off the field. His ability to polarize, his perceived red flags, past fast lane life style and doubts about his size have all done nothing to hamper his rise to near unprecedented athletic fame.

It’s obvious that he has made mistakes; but when you consider the amount of attention he has been receiving, from a scalding spotlight, and from such a young age; he has come out of it in relatively good shape.

Manziel’s resilience and adaptability is a result of his personal growth from all the hard work he has put in as an individual. It seems that all these experiences have provided him with an opportunity to fortify his psychology in football, which he has gladly taken.

“I’ve been doubted for a long time. I don’t let it affect me; I don’t lose any sleep at night. I felt like coming out of high school I was better than I was rated,” Manziel said.

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