What Manziel’s first week in Memphis has been like for him, Express
Johnny Manziel is not “just another guy in the QB room,” no matter what he or anyone else says.
The Alliance of American Football doesn’t issue news releases with statements from the co-founders of the league for just anybody. The Memphis Express don’t get upwards of 20 reporters and photographers at their weekly news conferences when coach Mike Singletary is the only one made available. Videos from those news conferences don’t yield more than 110,000 views (and counting) when they’re posted on Twitter each week.
To be sure, Manziel’s addition will make life quite a bit different for everyone involved for the foreseeable future — even if AAF co-founder Bill Polian hasn’t “seen any effect of that at this point.” But it won’t stop him, the AAF or the Express from striving to normalize the indoctrination process, which is gradually becoming an achievable endeavor as the initial fervor has begun to subside.
The former Heisman winner and
first-round NFL Draft pick took roughly the same number of snaps as Brandon Silvers (who will start Sunday’s home game against the Birmingham Iron) and Christian Hackenberg during team drills at Wednesday’s practice.
Singletary hasn’t said whether Manziel will play Sunday.
“I got about 13 or 14 live reps, and I was just getting some of the rust out,” said Manziel, whose last game action came last November in the CFL. “In Canada, I didn’t get a chance to go under center and get back to inside zone, outside zone footwork and some of the things I worked on my two years playing pro ball prior. It’ll get smoother. It’ll get cleaner as the weeks go on, I have no doubt about that.”
Aside from less media attention, more curious onlookers and a healthy amount of improvement, according to Manziel, Thursday was more of the same.
“I feel like practice was 10 times better (Thursday) than it was (Wednesday),” Manziel said. “I’ve been here early in the morning. I’ve stayed late at night. Watched film. I mean, the only thing negative I have is I’m trying to learn 65 people’s names in 24-48 hours and I feel bad about not knowing everybody yet. Outside of that, I have no complaints.”
From Singletary’s perspective, Manziel has been quick to build a rapport with his new teammates.
“He’s been great since he’s been here,” Singletary said. “There have been great comments from the guys. Great chemistry. So far, so good.”
Manziel, who visited the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Memphis on Wednesday, said getting acclimated to new teammates and coaches has been smooth.
“They’re awesome. Hilarious. It’s been fun,” he said. “It’s been a lot of work for me trying to catch up with guys that have six, seven, eight, nine weeks advantage on me. But some good guys in the locker room, for sure.”
Co-offensive coordinator Bobby Blizzard, who handles playcalling duties on gameday, met with Manziel shortly after he arrived in Memphis late Sunday.
“Pretty much as soon as he got off the plane, I was talking offensive stuff to him,” Blizzard said. “I asked if he was familiar with some of the terminology of the Air Raid (system). His eyes lit up. He was like, ‘Oh, that’s four verticals,’ or, ‘That’s Y cross.’ When he said that, it made me feel at ease.”
Manziel has even taken to Memphis already.
“It’s been great. A lot of positive vibes,” he said before showing up at the Grizzlies’ home game against the Rockets Wednesday night and reportedly joining Chandler Parsons for dinner. “Walking around town a little bit and had some good conversations with some people from here. It’s a wonderful opportunity for me and exactly where I should be in my life.”