Johnny Football is now Johnny Rehab

Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel entered a rehab facility in an effort to "improve himself". As with all things Manziel, he has been praised and hated for his decision to get professional help.

A spokesperson for the Browns quarterback had this to say about the decision:

Johnny knows there are areas in which he needs to improve in order to be a better family member, friend and teammate, and he thought the offseason was the right time to take this step. On behalf of Johnny and his family, we're asking for privacy until he rejoins the team in Cleveland.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer echoed that statement with one of his own:

We respect Johnny's initiative in this decision and will fully support him throughout this process. Our players' health and well-being will always be of the utmost importance to the Cleveland Browns. We continually strive to create a supportive environment and provide the appropriate resources, with our foremost focus being on the individual and not just the football player. Johnny's privacy will be respected by us during this very important period and we hope that others will do the same.

One of the reasons for people making fun of Maziel for this decision is the understandable lack of sincerity that he has come across throughout his short career. Manziel has been a character throughout college and his single professional year. Not taking things seriously and generally being far more concerned with his image than with his ability to be a franchise quarterback. Those thoughts were reaffirmed when reports came out about his own teammates thinking that he was a joke.

Sadly for Manziel, if this treatment was his idea, few people will recognize it as such. Based on his previous actions and quotes, it reeks of a public relations move by the Browns organization trying to give their quarterback, whom they gave so much to acquire, a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the public. However, if Manziel proves to be the same guy after rehab as he was going into it, the already short leash will become a noose that will hang him in the Browns locker room and with the organization.

Hopefully for Manziel, his supporters and his family, 'Johnny Football' really dedicates himself to improving himself and getting on the right track as a man and as a professional. Good luck to Johnny during his treatment and hopefully the Ravens get to face off against a rejuvenated player in the next season.