Leigh Steinberg: Manziel humility needed

The “Johnny Manziel Show” debuted Sunday with more promotion and hoopla than successful veteran quarterbacks generally experience.

The Cleveland-Cincinnati game went national — and Manziel had a horrific afternoon. He was 10 for 18 passing for all of 80 yards and threw two interceptions, leading his team to no points and a loss that knocked the Browns out of playoff contention.

None of this is surprising for a rookie QB in his first start. But he has made it much harder on himself than necessary by incurring the disdain of defensive players all around the NFL.

Bengals defensive end Wallace Gilberry sacked Manziel and stood over the rookie QB flashing the money sign that Johnny has made his trademark. Gilberry later said “[Manziel] brought it on himself.”

“Everything was all about Manziel all week,” said veteran LB Rey Maualuga, who was flagged for knocking down a pass and taunting Manziel. Veteran players are clearly upset about the Manziel circus, and his taunting of the Redskins in the preseason.

I have represented 120-plus QBs over the last 40 years. Johnny Manziel is not one of them and my comments are not an attempt to second guess. But I did suggest in this space post-draft that Manziel would be best served by adopting the low-key, under-the-radar posture of other highly paid rookies entering the NFL.

He did not create the ESPN coverage, combined with his Heisman Trophy that elevated him to a national phenomenon as he left college. But it is important to earn the respect of the management, coaches and players on a team and understand the need for performance on the field being the key.

The fact that a national television ad ran incessantly before Manziel played more than a few plays doesn’t make a player one of the guys. Players like Troy Aikman and Steve Young waited until they had won Super Bowls to do major endorsements.

Adjusting to the pro game requires being on the field, and reading defenses for some time before it all clicks. There is a natural adjustment cycle that any rookie QB must experience. Keeping expectations low can take the pressure off the rookie.

Cleveland had the best late-season record in years behind veteran QB Brian Hoyer, and Manziel replaced him. Even with Hoyer’s late-season struggles, there are still shoes to fill.

I think Johnny Manziel has freakishly unique skills. He showed in college a unique ability to extend plays and bring a team back to victory when it was far behind. Eventually he will be a successful NFL QB. Dealing with talented veteran defensive players putting pressure on a rookie QB is challenging at best. Having defensive players extra motivated to punish him is disastrous.

There will come a time when Manziel has earned veteran respect and can be an accomplished NFL QB. Until then, prudence would dictate he lets his play on the field speak for him and keep those twitchy money-flashing fingers in his pockets.

((

LEIGH STEINBERG is a renowned sports agent, author, advocate, speaker and humanitarian. Twitter: @steinbergsports.