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Johnny Manziel has entered a substance abuse program, according to sources from within the Browns organization and Manziel's camp. Manziel's family attorney, Brad Beckworth, released a statement to the media on the matter:
"Johnny knows there are areas in which he needs to improve in order to be a better family member, friend and teammate and he thought the offseason was the right time to take this step."
Johnny's partying antics are always within view of a cell phone or telephoto lens, and there's been no shortage of page views available for covering his stories. While there was always a case to be made that his habits were magnified by his fame, it's hard to argue against the fact that Johnny has been living hard for a long stretch now.
Paul Manziel, Johnny's father, once famously stated that, "Yeah, it could come unraveled. And when it does, it's gonna be bad. Real bad," and that "It's one night away from the phone ringing, and he's in jail. And you know what he's gonna say? ‘It's better than all the pressure I've been under. This is better than that.'"
Entering rehab is certainly better "than that," and hopefully Manziel can see this process through.
Having dealt with addiction personally, and living around family members who have chosen to ignore it, admitting you have a problem with an addiction is extremely tough. Doing it while under constant public scrutiny and the pressure of living up to a Heisman trophy and first round draft-pick is unfathomable.
Johnny just took one of the toughest roads there is, and I wish him nothing but the best as he makes his way back to a football field in the future.
Gig 'em.