Manziel Antics Too Much?

  Cleveland Browns First-round-draft-selection Johnny Manziel (No.24 overall), better known as "Johnny Football" has a lot of off-the-field buzz. From him going to Las Vegas for Memorial day weekend, to him taking "selfies" with Justin Bieber, Manziel really knows how to keep the media interested. Is it too much? Should the Browns organization continue to put up with his behavior?

  Going into to the NFL draft, teams knew what Manziel would bring. Attention, a young man who could produce on the field, however, he had problems staying out of the spotlight while he was not on the field. He wasn't going out getting into trouble, he hasn't been reported for doing anything that would tarnish his football career. Basically, he has just been doing things that keep him in the news and therefore, the teams that he has been on have stayed in the news. When at Texas A&M, not such a big deal, "he's a college kid", that's the excuse people gave him. Now, Manziel being a professional football player, people have expected him to change the lifestyle that he was living previous to being drafted.

Tyrese, Justin Bieber, Floyd Mayweather, Jonny Maniel.

Most recently, there has been a lot of chaos surrounding Manziel in a "selfie", that also included Justin Bieber, Tyrese, and Floyd "Money" Mayweather. This photograph was posted by Justin Bieber, in the caption it said "with the boys @floydmayweather @tyrese @Jmanziel2". Last time I checked, hanging with friends or peers isn't a crime. What's to complain about? Because he went back to Las Vegas for the 4th of July weekend? or because, he hangs out with other celebrities? The Cleveland Browns have another issue at hand, which is much bigger. That issue, wide receiver, Josh Gordon. Gordon was pulled over by the police the past weekend with a suspicion of a DWI, while already appealing a suspension for the season for violating the NFL drug abuse policy. Manziel and Gordon are both in the spotlight by the media, the only problem, only of these players has done something wrong, and it's not Johnny Football.

  I think Manziel is going to continue to be Manziel. The owner has asked that he "tone it down" but, what does he have to change? his friends? not take vacations? He is a 21-year-old young male, he wants to enjoy himself. People have different interests, and for Johnny Football, his interest seems to be hanging with "the boys". I do think that come time for camp, he has to show that he is going to produce and that he was worthy of being a first-rounder, other than that, let Manziel be Manziel. Besides, he just having some clean good fun, as far we know.

5 Players to Watch in 2014 NFL Season

  Every season there are players that make that next-level jump in their game and career. You may see something special in their during mini-camp, in the previous season, or they may just be in a better situation than the previous season. Players like Golden Tate, Eric Decker, Michael Crabtree, C.J. Spiller, Matt Schaub and Alex Smith have all been prime examples of this, and their contracts help prove it.

  As we inch closer to a new NFL season, I've taken the time to go over the five players who will be sure to make that next-level jump in their games, in the 2014 season. These aren't players who I feel were under-the-radar last season, but players that I feel will make a huge statistical leap, in the upcoming season.

1. Emmanuel Sanders-

   

   Emmanuel Sanders

   Take out Eric Decker (now with NY Jets), insert Sanders. As simple as that. With Sanders going from a Pittsburgh team that wasn't the best offensively last season that struggled to score, to a Denver team that was number one in points per game and passing touchdowns. Sanders will have a lot of pressure taken off of him by Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker. In 2013 Sanders had 67 receptions, 6 touchdowns, and 740 yards. I'll look for him to add 20 receptions to that total, 9 touchdowns and 400 yards. 
2. EJ Manuel- Manuel was the only quarterback taken in the first round of last years draft. The Bills wanted him over Geno Smith for a reason. He was believed to be a harder worker and more efficient. Manuel played well for his rookie season, when he was on the field. Injuries may have given him a disadvantage in the rookie of the year race, this past season. However, with it going into a new season, look for Manuel to come in healthy and ready to work. The Bills traded away Stevie Johnson but they traded up on draft day to get the highest graded receiver of this class- Sammy Watkins.  With it looking as if Watkins will be the primary receiver. Manuel still will have second-year receiver, Robert Woods and he will also have running back, CJ Spiller, who had a pretty down season but look for him to bounce right back to the player he was in 2012. In 2013, Manuel only played in 10 games. He had over 1,900 yards passing, 11 touchdowns and completed 58 percent of his passes. In the 2014 season, you can look for his yards to increase by 1,000 or more, he'll add 9 touchdowns, and he should have and increase in completion percentage by at least 5 percent. 

   

   EJ Manuel

3. Oakland Raiders Defense- Lets be honest, the Oakland Raiders defense has looked awful for nearly half of a decade. Last season they focused on upgrading their secondary by signing free-agent and former Raider, Charles Woodson. They also drafted defensive back, DJ Hayden, who looked to be a risk since there was a lot of questions about his health, but showed this season that he was 100 percent healthy and ready to make big plays. This off-season, they've added pass rushers, Justin Tuck and Lamarr Woodley to the roster, and they drafted maybe the most versatile defensive player in this years draft class, Khalil Mack. This Raiders team won't be a top-5 defense or anything but they will make some noise and will give fans a lot to look forward to for the near future. In 2013 the Raiders were second to last in interceptions (9), 18th in sacks (38), and 29th in PPG allowed (28.3). Not to mention they lost 8 of their last 10 games. It'll hurt them mostly because their division is so strong, with 3 of the 4 teams making the playoffs in 2013. In 2014, look for this Raiders team to get more sack and takeaways and i'm giving them 7 wins.

   

   Oakland Raiders

    
4. Andrew Hawkins- The Cleveland Browns have been making a lot of noise this off-season, and I mean A LOT! If it's not what Johnny "Football" Manziel is doing, it's the trouble that star receiver, Josh Gordon is getting into. However, Hawkins was signed as a free agent and I believe that his contract was well deserved. With Hawkins suffering a major injury which only allowed him to be healthy for the final eight games of the season, I don't really feel as if the 2013 season was a fair assessment of his talent/skill. In 2013, Hawkins only had 12 receptions and 200 receiving yards. Much of that was a result of inconsistent packages from offensive coordinator, Jay Gruden, also, from former teammate Marvin Jones coming into his own, last season. In the 2012 season, Hawkins had 51 receptions, 533 yards and 4 touchdowns. That's more of the player that they'll see in Cleveland in 2014. Look for him to have nearly 1,200 yards overall, 8 touchdowns, and 55 receptions or better. No Josh Gordon for the season should equal ample opportunity for Hawkins in the offense. 

   

   Andrew Hawkins

5. Andre Ellington- In 2013 Ellington went into the season not even really knowing if he would see the field that often. By mid-season, Ellington was used in a variety of packages in the Cardinals offense. With the sudden and unexpected retirement of Rashard Mendenhall, you can look for Ellington to be the premiere back in the Arizona backfield. The Cardinals have a lot of offensive talent. Michael Floyd is coming into his own, Larry Fitzgerald is still Larry Fitzgerald and they've added Ted Ginn Jr. Expect for Bruce Arians to have some fun with this offense in 2014. In 2013, Ellington rushed for 650 yards and had 3 rushing touchdowns and added 371 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown to that, showing that he can really do it all. With Ellington more than likely seeing majority of the work load in 2014, look for his rushing yards to increase by 500 yards, rushing touchdowns by four (7 TD), and he should stay around 5 yards per carry. I don't expect to see much of an increase in the receiving department from him, however. 

Andre Ellington

Mario's Mock Draft.

 Finally! The day has come. That right, the NFL draft is here and every fan is hoping their team gets that one player that comes in and makes a difference, day one. We all want to make a case of why certain should draft a certain player, when in reality, anything can happen. That's why we love the draft, right? So we can see if a big trade happens or see if a player has that awkward drop in the draft and has to wait in the green room, sweating and praying they're the next name called. Do you remember Eli Manning being drafted No.1, by the San Diego Chargers and refused to play for them? Aaron Rodgers falling to No.24? Moments like these are why we love draft day.

    This year is an interesting draft, to say the least. I know, it's so cliche to say that, but this years draft is really interesting. There are about three QB's that could go first round- Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel- or fall to the second round. Johnny Manziel and Bortles have both been projected to go as high as the top 10. Will both of them or neither of them? Who knows.

  The bright spot of this years draft will be the receivers, there is a great class of receivers. There will be receivers taken in the third-and-fourth round that will be stars in this league, three years from now. Another position that is very deep is corner back, there will be at least five drafted in the first round.

  I bring to you, a mock draft like no others. It's not going to be all based upon team "needs". All teams have needs! There is only one Super Bowl winner, every season. That means that 31/32 teams have needs.

  My mock draft goes like this:

1. Houston Texans- Jadeveon Clowney
2. St. Louis Rams- Greg Robinson
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Khalil Mack
4. Cleveland Browns- Sammy Watkins
5. Oakland Raiders- Mike Evans
6. Atlanta Falcons- Jake Matthews 
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Stephon Tuitt
8. Minnesota Vikings- Blake Bortles 
9. Buffalo Bills- Calvin Pryor
10. Detroit Lions- Justin Gilbert
11. Tennessee Titans- Anthony Barr
12. NY Giants- Taylor Lewan
13. St. Louis Rams- Odell Beckham Jr.
14. Chicago Bears- Aaron Donald
15. Pittsburgh Steelers- Darqueze Dennard
16. Dallas Cowboys- Deone Bucannon
17. Baltimore Ravens- Kelvin Benjamin
18. NY Jets- Eric Ebron
19. Miami Dolphins- Xavier Su'a-Filo
20. Arizona Cardinals- C.J. Mosley
21. Green Bay Packer- Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix
22. Philadelphia Eagles- Brandin Cooks
23. Kansas City Chiefs- Teddy Bridgewater
24.  Cincinnati Bengals- Kyle Fuller
25. San Diego Chargers- Bradly Roby
26. Cleveland Browns- Johnny Manziel
27. New Orleans Saints- Ryan Shazier
28. Carolina Panthers- Marqise Lee
29. New England Patriots- Louis Nix III
30. San Francisco 49ers- Kony Ealy
31. Denver Broncos- Jason Verrett
32. Seattle Seahawks- Cody Latimer

  I hope you all enjoy the 2014 NFL draft. May the force be with your team! Just remember, the draft is about more than your team getting the best players and becoming better. It's also about, boys becoming men and beginning a new chapter in their lives with their families. Tonight, just sit back with your favorite teams ball cap or jersey, drink an ice cold beverage and prepare to watch your team make either the best or worst decisions. 

NFL Pre-Draft Podcast

James and Mario Pre-Draft podcast

The NFL draft is approaching us in the next 36 hours. Me and James Rapien breakdown the draft. We talk Clowney, Manziel, QB and much, much more on this pre-draft podcast 2014. Follow me on twitter @SimplyRio_ and James is @JamesRapien. Any questions or comments make sure you message us.

Should the Texans Draft a QB With the No.1 Overall Pick?

With the NFL draft just a couple of days away, I have been looking at many different mock drafts, and watching a lot of NFL analysts that have been talking about the Houston Texans, saying what they should do and which players are a guaranteed lock to go in the top 5 of the draft.

 There has been a lot of praise for the young defensive end, Jadeveon Clowney, to get draft with the No.1 overall selection. However, there has been some people that believe that a quarterback should be taken with that draft selection. Names that have been floating around are, Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel. Blake Bortles is a taller more stature QB who is more of a pro-style player, he has been seen as a player who can go in and contribute  on day one; Johnny Manziel a.k.a. Johnny Football, is a smaller, more elusive player, he isn't the traditional player. Some believe that Manziel, even though he is freakishly athletic and has great play-making ability is still too small to be endure hits from NFL players.

It's a tough decision. Who should the Texans draft: Bortles or Manziel? Which QB is going to take the team from being a No.1 draft pick to Super Bowl champions?... How about neither. Yes, that's right, neither!

In the past 10 years, there have been seven QB's drafted with the No.1 overall pick. How have those draft picks played out thus far? Well, lets take a look at the success rate. We can begin by looking at the draft choices that were QB's since 2004:

• 2004-Eli Manning (2 Super Bowl wins, with the team he wasn't drafted by)
• 2005- Alex Smith: Almost considered a bust until two season ago, not really a game changing player, more of a game manager.
• 2007- JaMarcus Russell: Bust! He's still trying to make it back in the league.
• 2009- Matt Stafford- Well, he does have the best receiver in the game with Calvin Johnson; one playoff appearance ( loss to the Saints)
•  2010-Sam Bradford: He's had decent numbers; no playoff appearances, he was also injured two season.
• 2011- Cam Newton- Had a phenomenal rookie season, statistically; one playoff appearance (loss to San Francisco); Playoff year was more about his defense than him, so lets not think too much about giving him all of the praise for that. 
• 2012- Andrew Luck- Been to the playoffs first two years and has one playoff win. 

  So, think about it carefully. In the past 10 years how many of those QB's taken have got Super Bowl rings or even appearances?  Two. Eli Manning, who has two Super Bowl appearances and wins, and Alex Smith, who didn't play in the Super Bowl game- Colin Kaepernick is credited with that Super Bowl appearance.  

Is the choice not obvious on who should be taken with the No.1 overall pick, in this years draft... Anyone but a QB. You can find one in later rounds, but you can take a player with freakish talent, like Jadeveon Clowney, pair him with J.J. Watt. You have to face Andrew Luck twice a year. You don't think that combination will make him sweat, just a little? 

I don't believe that it's statistically wise to choose either Bortles or Manziel in this spot, well, not if you want to turn things around fast. If you look at history, you can even see that Houston Texans had more success when they drafted Mario Williams ('06) with the No.1 pick than when they drafted David Carr ('02). Come draft day, I believe that the Houston Texans should draft Clowney, because he is, 1. He is the best player in the draft. 2. He's not a QB. 

The Return of Michael Vick?

Michael Vick hasn't played 16 games since 2006. Most games played since, 13(2011).

  After being the back-up to Nick Foles in his final season in Philadelphia, QB Michael Vick, went on record to say that he believes that he still can be a starting player in the league. Vick, who recently signed a contract with the New York Jets,--one-year worth $5 mil--just might get that chance.

  The Jets have signed Michael Vick and released veteran, Mark Sanchez. Out with the old in with new, right? Well, what about last years second round draft pick, Geno Smith?

  In New York i'm sure there are a lot of unknowns, but this may be the biggest of the offseason, thus far. Rex Ryan, coach of the Jets, has been telling the media, Geno Smith will be the starter going into training camp. Smith coming off a terrible rookie campaign in 2013. 12 TD's 21 INT's, i'm not really sold on Ryan's word. I mean, it wasn't all of Smiths' fault, the offensive line was injured through the season and well,  just didn't really play that well either.

  Vick, if healthy could potentially become the starter, it'll be a great place for him to do it. I don't only think it will benefit him, but also, Smith. If Vick can get recreate the 2010 season that he had in Philadelphia, in New York, he might see that one-year contract extended with Jets or possibly with another team. Is this too much to expect of Vick? To want to see him go out and run around the field and destroy defenses the way he once did, pre- Eagles days. I hear a lot of people say that Michael Vick isn't the same player he once was because of his age. Some say, "he's always injured". Both could be true, we don't know at this point and time right now. Vick (33) isn't the young bolt of lighting that he was in Atlanta, no, but he still has some years left on his body, being out of football for the three-or-so years helps. However, I don't believe beating out Smith will be that easy. The AFC east is only getting more difficult, the Patriots still have Brady and Belichick, both the Dolphins and Bills were very close to making the playoffs in 2013. On top of the competition in the division, Vick, might just have to run for his life, literally. Geno Smith was sacked 43 times last season and with it not being any big-time receivers to pass to, that will make the position that much more difficult. Well, Vick may not have to worry about receivers, with the NFL draft around the corner. But let's think about what's plagued Vick in the past: 1. Holding on to the ball, far too long; 2. Trying to "create" a big play, but will make a big mistake. 3. Inaccurate deep passing. 4. (recently) trying to be someone he isn't-- pocket passer. If he is hit as much as Smith was, you can't help but think that he'll be injured halfway through the season.

  One advantage I can give to Vick, no questions, he's a good leader on/off the field. Also, his relationship with offensive coordinator, Mardy Mornhinweg, is reportedly very good. Vick isn't a franchise QB by any means in the NFL anymore, he might not even be around another four years, realistically. But what he does still have is a passion for the game, and a coach like Rex Ryan, should be able to get 100% out of him, while in New York, whether he's the starter or second-string
.
   Through his career, he has been known as being injury prone, but when healthy he has the potential to be a very dangerous offensive threat. The only question: which Vick will we see this season, if he does win the starting QB role?

My Top 10 Free Agents

 After just one day of the free agent madness, we've seen some big names signed early on- Safety,Jairus Byrd (New Orleans); Defensive End, Michael Johnson (Tampa Bay); Offensive Tackle, Branden Albert (Miami); Defensive back, Donte Whitner (Cleveland), just to name a few- But don't worry, if your team didn't make any moves on the first day there's no need to panic. The free agent market this year in the NFL seems to be deep, it just seems as if teams are looking to spend less than they've done in the past. Which players can they attract at bargain prices? That seems to be the question going around the league during this off season thus far.

 It is a lot of talent still left out in the open market, also, there have been reports of more players set to be released by teams because of current cap issues. One of those players, Tampa bay corner back, Darrelle Revis according to sources around the media. If Revis is released, that would be big for a lot of teams looking to improve their secondary immediately. However, Revis isn't the only player that will be a free agent that can make an impact day one.

 I have gone through the list of free agents and I've seen numerous players that can contribute to a team from the first day of training camp.

So, from the players available/ free agents, I've made a list of who I believe are the Top 10 players that will make an impact on a team from the first day. They are:

1. Darrelle Revis (DB)- NWE
2. Demarcus Ware (LB/DE)-DEN
3. LaMarr Woodley (DE/LB)
4. Hakeem Nicks (WR)
5. Michael Oher (OT)
6. Darren Sproles (RB)- Traded to Phi
7. Julius Peppers (DE)
8. Captain Munnerlyn (CB)
9. Brandon Spikes (LB)
10. B.J. Raji (DT)     

 I believe that these players are all capable of being day-one starters on which ever team they sign with, but I also believe that the wrong system can also lead to the downfall of any of their careers. The free agency extravaganza has just begun. There is still a large number of really talented free agents available, where will they land... we just have to watch everything unfold as this NFL off season continues.