Merrill Hoge comments on Manziel

[Dolphster]

I have no clue whether Johnny Manziel will pan out as an NFL QB or not, but I hate the whole copping an attitude about "lets wreck this league" type of comment from rooks who haven't accomplished anything in the bigs yet.   Rookies should keep their eyes and ears open and their mouths shut.  So I did get a kick out of Merrill Hoge calling out Manziel yesterday. 

[Dave Gray]

His comments were harsh and I'm surprised he made them, but they were accurate.

It's crazy to me that guys like Tebow or Manziel go in the first round.  How does a team let that happen?  I mean -- can't you see it coming a mile away?

[masterfins]

I think his comments were a bit over the line for an "analyst".  Most of his comments were fair to state as his opinion, but the tone of the comments come off as a personal attack, not an unbiased opinion.

[Dolphster]

Even though I got a kick out of his comments, I agree with you that he went kind of "over the top".   I'm assuming that he chose his words intentionally, knowing that they would create a lot of discussion (publicity) so to that end, it would appear that he succeeded. 

[Fau Teixeira]

what were these comments ?

[Rich]

Hoge appeared on Pittsburgh’s WDVE-FM on Wednesday and the conversation turned to the Steelers’ Week 1 opponent and their famous backup quarterback. Not surprisingly, Hoge didn’t have nice things to say, but he took particular offense to Manziel’s infamous draft night text to Cleveland quarterback coach Dowell Loggains, in which he vowed to “wreck this league.”

Take it away, Merril:

“That didn’t just burn players; it infuriates coaches. It told you, too, that he’s a juvenile punk. He was like that, and he’s still like that.”

Hoge also said what the Browns coaches have already implied with Manziel’s place on the depth chart: The rookie isn’t ready to play in the NFL. He also says Manziel’s career will end quickly like Tim Tebow’s.

But what really galls Hoge isn’t Manziel’s lack of talent, but the hype that obscures it and convince everyone Johnny Football is the second coming of John Elway.

“This is the one thing that probably burns me more about our league, the NFL, than anything is when a player like Johnny Manziel is drafted based on hype and excitement, not a true football skill. He really had no business being drafted in the first round.”

[Brian Fein]

you can replace "Manziel" with "Tebow" in Hoge's statement and they are still true.

He's right.

[CF DolFan]

But Tebow had respect for the league. Manziel purposely creates his own circus to become the center of attention and distract.

[Dave Gray]

Yeah, I'm the first to say Tebow sucked, but he was respectful of the process.  He just didn't have the tools.  Tebow was likable, because he was a good teammate and was humble.  It just didn't work out.

Manziel is a douche and he's easy to hate.

[Brian Fein]

Agree with both of those sentiments.  I'd argue that Johnny is a head-and-shoulders better football player than Tebow.  Johnny creates his own circus and disrespects everyone while Tebow's media infatuation is more baffling.