The Cleveland Browns finally made the decision to release troubled quarterback Johnny Manziel on Friday, ending a tumultuous relationship that lasted less than two years.
Cleveland announced the decision on Twitter.
The team had high hopes for the former Heisman Trophy winner when they selected him in the first round of the 2014 draft, but the 23-year-old has failed to live up to expectations both on the field and off.
Manziel's reported drinking problem became a national storyline and near-constant problem for the organization during his tenure with the team. After a number of instances in which Manziel was spotted drinking at the end of his first season, the quarterback decided to get treatment at a rehab facility near the end of January 2015.
Since leaving the facility in April, more videos of the quarterback drinking have surfaced, and his now ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic violence in October 2015 and again in January 2016. Fort Worth Police are still investigating the January incident.
As a result of his repeated off-the-field issues, Manziel's release became all but inevitable in recent months. Soon after the Browns named Hue Jackson their new head coach in January, ESPN reported that he wanted the organization to cut ties with the troubled quarterback.
The Browns are currently on the books for over $4 million from Manziel's contract. Cleveland was unable to drop the quarterback until the new league season started on Wednesday, according to Pro Football Talk.
Manziel played in just 14 games during his two seasons with the Browns, starting in eight of them. Over that period, he accumulated 1675 passing yards, 259 rushing yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.
