NFL Notes: Johnny Manziel, LaMarr Woodley & Eagles

Johnny Manziel

Erik Burkhardt, the first agent to drop QB Johnny Manziel, spoke with Peter Schrager of FOX Sports about what transpired with Manziel that led to him cutting ties.

“It was just a great experience,” Burkhardt of representing Manziel. “I still talk to Johnny and I care deeply for him. As with all of our clients, life comes before football. [Football] is just a short, little microcosm of the rest of your life. Unfortunately, that was part of the reason why I had to step away. I think I said in my statement at the time that accountability is the foundation of any relationship. And when I didn’t have that, the function of my work was counterproductive.”

Burkhardt explained that it was getting to the point where Manziel could affect his relationships with NFL teams and general managers.

“My relationships with these general managers, I’ve got to work with these guys for 20, 30 years,” Burkhardt said. “When they point-blank ask me if he’ll be X, Y and Z and do X, Y and Z, and if Johnny can’t give me his word that that’s what is going to take place, then I have to be honest with those guys. So, when I couldn’t do my job most effectively, that was a tough day for me, but that’s when I had to step away from our relationship on a professional level.”

According to Burkhardt, they’re still friends to this day.

“You gotta do what’s best for people. That was the decision I made along with his family, and for Johnny. It’s not like I blindsided Johnny. We’ve remained friends. He totally understood it. … Life is bigger than football. At the time we had to give an ultimatum to Johnny, and if he couldn’t meet that, I had to be a man of my word and do what I said I was going to.”

LaMarr Woodley

Free agent OLB LaMarr Woodley mentioned that he isn’t stressing out about no teams expressing interest in him up to this point.

“I’m involved in a lot and have a lot of things going on,” Woodley said, via Hugh Bernreuter of MLive.com. “Other people can get stressed about whether I play again or not, but I’m not stressed.

“I don’t stress over something I don’t control.”

Woodley, 31, has had a hard time being productive since the Steelers moved on from his two years ago.

Eagles

Eagles free agent acquisition OL Stefen Wisniewski made it clear that he has no intention of being a backup for the first time in his NFL career.

“I haven’t been a backup since I have been in this league, and I don’t intend to be one now,” Wisniewski said, via Philly.com.

Wisniewski will need to beat out veteran Allen Barbre for the starting job at left guard this summer. He says that the Eagles didn’t promise him anything outside of an opportunity to compete for a job.

“I wasn’t promised anything [about a starting job], but I was promised the opportunity to compete, and that is all I can ask for,” Wisniewski said.