Johnny Manziel is taking steps to clean up his image. On Wednesday, Jan. 28, the Cleveland Browns quarterback entered a rehab program to work on improving himself, friend and adviser Brad Beckworth confirmed on Monday, Feb. 2.
"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," Beckworth said in a statement, which was posted on the Browns' official website. "On behalf of Johnny and his family, we're asking for privacy until he rejoins the team in Cleveland."
Browns General Manager Ray Farmer also addressed the news on Monday, saying the team was behind Manziel 100 percent.
"We respect Johnny's initiative in this decision and will fully support him throughout this process," Farmer noted. "Our players' health and well-being will always be of the utmost importance to the Cleveland Browns."
He continued: "We continually strive to create a supportive environment and provide the appropriate resources, with our foremost focus being on the individual and not just the football player. Johnny's privacy will be respected by us during this very important period and we hope others will do the same."
Manziel, 22 — aka "Johnny Football" — had a rough first season in the NFL, both on and off the field. A close friend of the rapper Drake, he became known more for his partying than his playing.
Case in point? During the offseason last June, he made headlines when he was photographed swigging alcohol straight from the bottle while floating on an inflatable swan at an X Games afterparty in Austin, Tex. He also missed a treatment session on his injured hamstring last December after partying late the night before.
"I think I've been a work in progress throughout this year," he told reporters at the time. "There have been a lot of ups and downs…but I'm still an extremely competitive person and know what I want to do in my life. I know what is important to me, and now it is time to come in here, look at myself in the mirror, and hold myself accountable and start making some deals with myself."
