The week that was in the always unpredictable life of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel:
Two up
- Time's up for Johnny Football's college career, right? The expected announcement that he will turn pro early and leave two years of eligibility on the NCAA table is still probably a couple of weeks away, at least. But Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin isn't talking about life without Manziel until life without Manziel begins. He'll enjoy the ride like everyone else for now. Via usatoday.com:
"I'm not going to reflect on that until it is his last game. All I can tell you is what he's done for the university up to this point (is) well-documented. His numbers speak for themselves. He is without a doubt the most exciting player in America." - Sumlin.
- Manziel certainly had two thumbs up this week for singer/songwriter Sean McConnell and the Randy Rogers Band, who apparently performed for a crowd that included Manziel in College Station this week:
Not familiar with McConnell's work? Hear what soothes Johnny Football's ears.
Two down
- The Heisman voters were clearly down on Johnny Football, placing him just fifth among six finalists. That was the biggest surprise in the voting, bar none. Certainly, Jameis Winston of FSU winning the award was the worst-kept secret of all. Given that Auburn running back Tre Mason's Heisman push didn't even really begin until two weeks before votes were cast, it's no shock that Mason -- spectacular as he is -- finished last.
Manziel finishing fifth, on the other hand, begs the question: Did he tumble down the ballots because of two late-season losses in which he played poorly? Or was it because the voters were a little sick of Johnny, Johnny's stardom and Johnny's drama?
More than likely, it was a little of both.
- Could the Houston Texans, well on their way to the No. 1 overall draft pick, trade down to acquire Johnny Manziel? NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt suggested just that possibility in his latest look at the top of the draft and the needs of the teams involved. And as far as Texas Tech coach and former Aggies offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is concerned, the Texans shouldn't even bother trading down.
Slowing down
It's been a far more quiet week for Manziel, presumably wrapping up final exams (online or otherwise) and closing out the academic semester at Texas A&M, than the one he had last week. Jetting around from Orlando to New York to hang out with Mike Rozier and live cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse is a lot for one man in a single week. Unforunately, Rozier didn't wear the same show-stopping suit he wore at last year's Heisman ceremony, but fellow Heisman Cornhusker Johnny Rodgers picked up the slack.
Three to remember
Among the most hard-to-fathom factoids about Manziel is that, in just two seasons, he owns the three highest single-game performances for total offense in the history of the SEC. This is a league that has had its defenses trounced by more than its share of tough-to-tackle quarterbacks: Tim Tebow and Cam Newton are two recent examples, and Archie Manning holds fourth place.
A quick look at the three days Johnny Football was at his most magical:
Sept. 29, 2012
Texas A&M 58, Arkansas 10
Manziel: 29-of-38, 453 pass yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs; 14 rushes, 104 yards, TD. Total offense: 557.
Video: Manziel gets first win in SEC.
Oct. 13, 2012
Texas A&M 59, Louisiana Tech 57
Manziel: 24-of-40, 395 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 19 rushes, 181 yards, 3 TDs. Total offense: 576.
Video: Manziel survives non-conference scare.
Sept. 14, 2013
Alabama 49, Texas A&M 42
Manziel: 28-of-39, 464 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs; 14 rushes, 98 yards, 0 TDs. Total offense: 562.
Video: Manziel's historic performance in losing effort.
Draw it up
What college football fan hasn't sat on the couch, watched Johnny Manziel pile up 500 yards on some hapless defense, and thought, "I could call the plays and it wouldn't matter?" Apparently, it does matter to Sumlin, who replaced his play caller earlier this week. So now, 28-year-old Jake Spavital will get a chance to close his eyes, spin the wheel, and tell Manziel how to go about his next big play.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
