Browns not worried about Manziel
NFL Weekend trips no big deal to the team
Associated Press
BEREA, Ohio — The Browns aren’t worried about Johnny Manziel running out of bounds off the field.
After a weekend of partying in Texas, where he was photographed drinking champagne while floating on an inflatable swan in a nightclub swimming pool, Manziel was on the field Tuesday as the Browns opened a mandatory three-day minicamp.
The team is not making their popular Heisman Trophy-winning rookie quarterback available to the media this week.
Manziel has left Cleveland each of the past three weekends, first taking a trip to Las Vegas, then to Los Angeles for a seminar with other rookies and then to his home state, where in addition to having some fun, he got drafted by the San Diego Padres.
Following practice, Browns firstyear coach Mike Pettine said he’s not worried about how his young QB spends his free time. “I’m not concerned,” Pettine said. “I would become concerned if it was something criminal and I would be concerned if it affected his job. There’s a lot of our guys, if when they leave here if they were followed around, you’d get some very similar pictures.
“I don’t know about an inflatable swan, but you’d still get some pictures.”
Manziel has said he intends to keep living his life to the fullest, and Pettine doesn’t feel the need to monitor the 21-year- old’s every move.
“The philosophy here is that we’re not going to micro-manage the guys,” Pettine said. “I was involved in an event this weekend, and if there were some cameras at certain times it probably wouldn’t have been the most flattering. It was a group of coaches out and we had a good time, but we were responsible.
“When it becomes irresponsible or it becomes part of breaking the law or it’s something we feel is a potential problem, we’ll step in.”
DEVELOPMENTS
Chiefs cornerback Smith arrested for DUI: Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith was cited for driving under the influence and careless driving after an officer witnessed him lose control and strike a light pole early Monday.
According to a copy of the police report, Smith was attempting to make a turn in Kansas City’s Power & Light entertainment district when he struck the light pole about 12:30 a.m. The officer reported that Smith “appeared confused and be- gan mumbling statements that I did not understand.”
Smith declined medical attention. His vehicle sustained significant damage.
“We are aware of the situation involving Sean Smith. Whenever one of our players is involved in an incident like this it is disappointing,” the Chiefs said in a statement to the Associated Press.
Falcons LB ruptures Achilles: Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon has ruptured his Achilles tendon and will miss the 2014 season.
Weatherspoon suffered the injury Tuesday while running under the supervision of the team’s medical staff. Weatherspoon had been held out of the organized team activities as he was continuing his recovery from a foot injury that limited him to only seven games in 2013.
The loss of Weatherspoon, the team’s first-round pick from Missouri in 2010, is a blow to the Falcons, whose 2013 season was marked by a string of injuries. Weatherspoon has eight sacks and two interceptions in his first four seasons.
Coach Mike Smith said in a statement released by the team on Tuesday night that Weatherspoon will have surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.
Cowboys’ Lee set for surgery on knee: Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee is set for surgery on his injured knee, but there’s no timetable for his return.
Coach Jason Garrett said Lee is scheduled for surgery on the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Thursday. Garrett isn’t saying whether Lee will try to play in 2014.
Lee was injured during 11- on-11 work on the first day of offseason practice last month.
If the Cowboys think he can make it back, they could delay a decision on season- ending injured reserve until during the season. The normal recovery time on ACL surgery is at least six months. Lee has missed 15 games the past two seasons because of toe, hamstring and neck injuries.