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Signing Johnny Manziel would be the ultimate Bill Belichick project

By Dan Orencole

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH24: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Memphis Express warms up before a game against the Birmingham Iron at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on March 24, 2019 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Express defeated the Iron 31-25. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/AAF/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH24: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Memphis Express warms up before a game against the Birmingham Iron at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on March 24, 2019 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Express defeated the Iron 31-25. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/AAF/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 21: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots walks the sideline during the second half against the Buffalo Bills in the game at Gillette Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 21: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots walks the sideline during the second half against the Buffalo Bills in the game at Gillette Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /

Bill Belichick has proven his willingness to take risks

Bill Belichick has shown the willingness to take a risk on players with character issues throughout his coaching career — most recently by signing often-troubled undrafted wideout Jeff Thomas out of the University of Miami.

Signing Manziel would be arguably the greatest power move ever made by the New England Patriots head coach. It would be a statement that could make waves throughout the country, as Manziel still has that name recognition even now as an outcast of the NFL.

The off-field struggles of Manziel are well-documented over his short-lived NFL career.

On The Dan Patrick Show back in 2018, Manziel admitted to his lack of preparation while with the Cleveland Browns — the organization that traded up to select Manziel with the 22nd pick in the 2014 NFL Draft:

"“Guys are good in the NFL because they know film, they study hard, and they work even harder in the offseason. So I didn’t know that. And I feel like, if Cleveland did any of their homework, they would have known that I was a guy that didn’t come in every day and watch film. I was a guy that didn’t really know the Xs and Os of football. Nobody was there (in Cleveland), like, helping me go over the Xs and Os, and it was hard. I struggled.”"

A lack of preparation would be a quick way for Manziel to get released if he were on the Patriots, as the team wouldn’t have much invested in him whatsoever.

While true, it is a text message Manziel sent to the Browns quarterbacks coach at the time, Dowell Loggains, that shows the type of competitive nature Manziel had — and possibly still has to this day, maybe even moreso if he gets another opportunity in the NFL.

Per ESPN, Manziel saw his name slipping down the draft board as the first round wore on. He then took it upon himself to text Loggains: “I wish you guys would come get me. Hurry up and draft me because I want to wreck this league together.”

Obviously, that didn’t occur as Manziel fizzled out after just 15 games played, eight starts, and 258 pass attempts.

Next. Bill Belichick closing in on George Halas for No. 2 in wins. dark

While true, that is too small of a sample size for a player as talented as Manziel is to just close the book on him possibly getting one more opportunity at 27 years old.

That opportunity is not likely to be presented to him, as he’s been outside of the NFL since 2015.

But if it does, I think the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick would be the perfect — and maybe the only — fit for him.

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