Former Browns QB Johnny Manziel mentioned during an interview with “Good Morning America” that he has been diagnosed as bipolar and is taking medication for it.
Manziel says he wants to return to the NFL and get another shot at playing football at the highest level.
“I am watching all the other guys doing what I want to be doing and I am sitting on a couch being a loser,” Manziel said, via ESPN.com.
According to Manziel, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder “about a year ago” and he’s stopped drinking, which he had been using to fight off depression.
“At the end of the day I can’t help that my wires are a little bit differently crossed than yours, I can’t help my mental makeup of the way that I was created,” Manziel said. “But I know if I stay on these meds and I continue to do what I am doing right now … I think my dad, my mom, I think [girlfriend Bre Tiesi], would all agree that they see a drastic change.”
Regarding his comeback, Manziel says he just wants to get back to doing something he’s enjoyed for so long.
“I don’t know what kind of comeback it will be,” Manziel said, “but I know I want to get back on a football field to what brought me so much joy in my life and it makes me happy doing as my job.”
Manziel had been negotiating with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, but his self-imposed deadline passed without an agreement in place.
The Tiger-Cats released the following statement regarding the situation with Manziel:
“While the discussions with Johnny Manziel and his representative have been very cordial and informative, there is nothing imminent and nothing to report. We will continue to do our due diligence and will have no further public comment on the matter as we move forward.”
Manziel, 25, is a former first-round pick of the Browns back in 2014. He was in the second year of his four-year, $8,247,250 rookie contract when the Browns cut him loose at the start of the 2016 league year.
Manziel received a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on recreational drug and wound up sitting out the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
In 2015, Manziel appeared in nine games and thrown for 1,500 yards while completing 57.8 percent of his passes to go along with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Manziel also ran for 230 yards. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 31 quarterback out of 36 qualifying players that year.
We’ll have more regarding Manziel as the news is available.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
