Johnny Manziel Apologies to Browns Fans After Troubled Rookie Season

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has apologized to his team and his fans, saying he let them down in his difficult rookie season. In a statement released Friday, Manziel acknowledged that he had disappointed many people close to him and said he planned to work hard to regain everyone’s trust and respect. “I understand that will take time and will only happen through what I do and not what I say,” he said in the statement.

In January Manziel entered rehab at Caron, a treatment center in Pennsylvania that specializes in drug and alcohol issues. The decision followed a rookie season in which he performed poorly on the field and was involved in a number of off-the-field incidents involving drinking and partying. “I also understand there’s a lot of curiosity about this but anyone who has a friend or family member that’s been through things like this knows it’s an ongoing process,” he said, referring to his stint in rehab. “I’m going to continue to ask folks to try to respect my privacy as I determine to what degree I am comfortable talking about a subject which I consider very personal.”

Manziel is expected to rejoin Browns team practices next week. “I look forward to seeing my teammates next week and focusing on football and my desire to be the best possible player, teammate, and man that I can be,” he said.

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