Latest news with #Manziel
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Did CBS Sports actually rank 'Johnny Football' ahead of Longhorns legend Vince Young?
CBS Sports has released a 25 most dynamic players of the past 25 years. Inexplicably, the network ranked four players ahead of Longhorns legend Vince Young, including Texas A&M quarterback Johnny 'Football' Manziel. CBS writer Brad Crawford admits even his own colleagues differ on the definition of "dynamic." Crawford ranks USC running back Reggie Bush No. 1. I think any Texas fan that was in the Rose Bowl on January 4, 2006 knew Vince Young had a much greater ability to take over a game than Bush. Bush had flashy runs, but ultimately, he couldn't beat VY. Bush won the Heisman Trophy in 2005 over Young. But if you really look at that season, Bush had an incredible performance against Fresno State and became the Heisman front runner the rest of the season. Many votes assumed USC was going to beat Texas and so they "logically" voted for Bush. In hindsight, the best college football player in 2005 was the Texas QB. Cam Newton is ranked No. 2. I think VY was better, but their careers, body type and style are very similar. Crawford reveals he grew up in the South watching the SEC. So there's definitely some SEC bias in his rankings. Of course, going forward, the Longhorns will benefit from the SEC bias that has dominated college football for 20 years. Johnny Football is ranked No. 3. There's no doubt that Manziel's freshman year was epic. The Aggies looked like a very average team until Manziel became QB and they had a very solid 12-2 season. Manziel was by far the best player on that team and they fed him the ball. His size certainly made him look more dynamic. More on that in a bit. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle "Few players have garnered "SEC legend" status over the last few decades and change, but Johnny Football earned the decorative title. Beating top-ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa was his signature moment, yet Manziel was just as potent in a breakout game against SMU and during a memorable comeback against Duke during bowl season. As a redshirt freshman in 2012 under Kevin Sumlin, Manziel rushed for 1,410 yards and 21 touchdowns, breaking more tackles than any player at his position. The Heisman winner toned down the freelance scrambling as a sophomore but still finished with 4,114 yards passing and a SEC-leading 37 touchdown passes." -- Brad Crawford, CBS Sports Crawford ranks Lamar Jackson No. 4. Jackson was very good. I guess any QB that got that Louisville team inside the Top 25. Was he clutch? At times. I'd still rank VY ahead of Jackson though. Finally, at No. 5 is Vince Young. Crawford talks about his epic Rose Bowl, which is obvious. He mentions going 13-0 and beating ranked teams, including a 70-point offensive explosion in the Big 12 title game against Colorado. "Young's mad dash to the pylon to beat USC at the Rose Bowl ended one of college football's most iconic sequences and preceded the confetti storm of a celebration under the lights in Pasadena. Most college football fans of a certain age remember where they were that night. Young didn't the Heisman that season, but Texas knocked off four ranked teams en route to a 13-0 record. Young's heroics on offense helped that spectacular unit eclipse 50 or more points seven times, including a 70-point showing in the Big 12 Championship Game." -- Brad Crawford, CBS Sports Aside from almost single-handedly taking down a dynasty, going 13-0 should be given more weight. Of course Texas had a good team, but without VY they wouldn't have been one of the greatest single season teams of all time. Texas was only in danger of losing a couple games. One was against Kansas, when Young converted a 4th and 18 with his legs. The other was against USC. If you look at the 2005 season, VY was never going to allow Texas to lose. Did anyone feel that about Johnny Football? Did anyone feel that about Lamar Jackson for that matter? If you look at Young's most dynamic games, like against Michigan in the 2004 Rose Bowl, or against Oklahoma State, or OU and so on, VY was not going to be stopped. Not by any team. His size, speed, instincts, arm all made him possibly the best player in college football history. If Young had returned to Texas for the 2006 season, who would have stopped him? Ohio State was in the national title game and beat Texas that year in Colt McCoy's second game as a freshman. The Buckeyes were beaten by Florida in the BCS title game. Chris Leak was the Gators QB. Both were good teams. But neither would have been able to beat Young. Texas would have most likely gone 26-0 with two titles. Obviously, Manziel left College Station early. SEC fans still can't get over his freshman year. But it is overrated. The big reason is size. Manziel was little. He was listed as 6-foot, but he looked much smaller. When little guys are "dynamic" it somehow looks more impressive. In 1986, I attended the NBA Slam Dunk contest. Spud Webb 5-foot 6-inches tall and the fact he could dunk at all was amazing. But that night, Webb's Atlanta Hawks teammate Dominique Wilkins put on one of the best dunking exhibitions in the history of that competition. So athletic. So dominant. But Webb was a little guy who could dunk. It wasn't logical and thus, he won over the judges and won the trophy. And I guess that's why Crawford put Manziel ahead of Young. VY was a freight train. He was 6-foot 5-inches and looked like a god. Manziel was a little guy seemed to be breaking logic. This list is for the most "dynamic" and size factors into that. I'd say VY was more dynamic. But if the definition "dynamic" is debatable then I guess you can use that to justify Johnny Football being higher on that list. But "best?" There's no doubt Young was better.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Almost Friday Media and Fanatics Sportsbook Partner To Launch Season Two of Glory Daze with Johnny Manziel
Maxx Crosby Will Be Manziel's First Guest NEW YORK, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almost Friday Media and Fanatics Sportsbook today announced the launch of season two of 'Glory Daze,' a weekly podcast hosted by Heisman Trophy Winner Johnny Manziel. 'Glory Daze' with Johnny Manziel is an interview series from Almost Friday Media that celebrates and explores the most nostalgic eras in sports. On 'Glory Daze,' Manziel, a former first round pick, sits down to have authentic conversations with some of the most iconic and legendary names in sports as they share never-before-heard stories, discuss their career-defining moments, and much more. The first episode of the new season of 'Glory Daze' will feature Las Vegas Raiders Defensive End Maxx Crosby and will be available on June 12th via all podcast platforms. The first season of 'Glory Daze' was a huge success and featured conversations with sports icons like Matt Leinart, LeSean McCoy, Greg Oden, Patrick Peterson, Michael Vick and Vince Young. As part of the partnership with Fanatics Sportsbook, Johnny Football will transform into 'Johnny FanCash' during live Fanatics Sportsbook ad reads and one-of-a-kind giveaways. Each week, 'Johnny FanCash' will collaborate with Fanatics Sportsbook on content and Manziel will make picks each week on the Fanatics Sportsbook, available on iOS and Android. In addition, Manziel will record an episode of Glory Daze in front of a live audience at Fanatics Fest NYC, an immersive sports festival where sports, culture, and collecting collide. Fanatics Fest NYC will take place at the Javits Center in New York City from June 20-22 and tickets are on sale at starting at $20 for kids and $60 for adults. "This season we talk to athletes still in the glory daze, former athletes, and even notable fans,' said Manziel. 'Having been through some unforgettable moments myself, I know how important it is to share the real stories behind what fans saw on the field. We've lined up some amazing guests who have those same experiences - career-defining moments that fans still talk about today. This season is all about going deeper into those stories and connecting with the fans who remember these glory days just as vividly as we do. It's about celebrating the moments that shaped the sports we love." New Episodes of Glory Daze will drop every Thursday at 12 PM ET across all podcast platforms and Johnny Manziel's Youtube Channel. For previews and episode highlights please follow the Glory Daze social channels @glorydazepod on IG, X and Tiktok. Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER About Fanatics Betting and GamingLaunched in 2021, Fanatics Betting and Gaming is the online and retail sports betting subsidiary of Fanatics, a global digital sports platform. The Fanatics Sportsbook, now the fastest growing sportsbook in America*, is available to 95% of the addressable online sports bettor market in the U.S. Fanatics Casino is currently available online in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Fanatics Betting and Gaming operates twenty-two retail sports betting locations, including the only sportsbook inside an NFL stadium at Northwest Stadium. Fanatics Betting and Gaming is headquartered in New York with offices in Denver, Leeds and Dublin. About Almost Friday MediaAlmost Friday Media is a media studio and content network created by brothers Max, Jack, and Sam Barrett in November 2019. The company originated as the viral Instagram account @ and has quickly expanded to 25+ brands and creators, delivering over 1.5 billion impressions every quarter to it's 25+ million followers. Almost Friday creates relatable content that stems from the relationships we have with our friends. We've capitalized on a need for coming-of-age comedy by creating incredible communities based around sports, culture, and comedy that is positive, inclusive, and says 'we're all in this together'. * Based on compiled data from state regulators evaluating sportsbooks comprising 98.5% of the market, as of February 2025. Contact: Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Johnny Manziel and Bryce Hall to Headline ReBet Celebrity Live Dealer Night
HANOVER, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ReBet, the cutting-edge free-to-play social sportsbook & casino, today announced that Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Johnny Manziel, and social media influencer Bryce Hall, will be live dealing blackjack and spinning the roulette wheel on Friday, May 23, 2025, from 7-10 pm ET during the ReBet Celebrity Live Dealer Night, a first-of-its-kind event. Bringing Johnny and Bryce on to interact with our users reflects our commitment to creating first-of-its-kind experiences for our users, by allowing them to connect with their favorite celebrities in a fun and safe way. Share Through ReBet's live 'chat' function, players and fans will have the chance to interact directly with Manziel and Hall throughout the night while playing these games, reflecting ReBet's foundational commitment to fostering a community-centric approach which encourages social interaction and fandom. To participate in the Celebrity Live Dealer Night, users can sign up for free (via their website the Apple App Store, or the Google Play Store) to enter ReBet's social casino and then select Manziel or Hall as their live dealer on the Blackjack and Roulette tables. 'When we founded ReBet, we sought to build a fun, social-first community that would bring people together to connect, share and interact around the games and sports they love,' said Carson Hubbard, CEO of ReBet. 'Bringing Johnny and Bryce on to interact with our users reflects our commitment to creating first-of-its-kind experiences for our users, by allowing them to connect with their favorite celebrities in a fun and safe way. We are thrilled that they are joining us on Friday night and look forward to providing ReBet users with additional unique opportunities like this in the future.' Johnny Manziel, or "Johnny Football," is a former quarterback who rose to stardom and won the Heisman Trophy at Texas A&M. As a first-round selection in the NFL Draft in 2014, Manziel went on to play for the Cleveland Browns before continuing his professional career in the CFL, AAF, and Fan Controlled Football League. Following his playing career, Manziel has focused on media, entrepreneurship, and fan engagements, and remains a prominent and influential figure in sports and pop culture. Bryce Hall is a leading Gen-Z influencer with more than 26 million followers across all social media and digital platforms. Hall, who originally rose to stardom on TikTok, has since expanded his brand outside of the social media world and into the film industry, where he has starred in several movies. ReBet was established in March 2024 and took off in its first year. Today, the app has hundreds of thousands of monthly active users and has quickly become the go-to platform for sports fans and gamers looking for a social, competitive place to compete. In just over a year, ReBet has taken its original social sportsbook and expanded to offer a social casino featuring more than 40 different 24/7 live dealer games, as well as thousands of non-live interactive games. For more information on ReBet please visit To play, go to their website the Apple App Store, or the Google Play Store. ReBet is a first-of-its-kind, social sportsbook & casino where fans can connect, share and celebrate their love for sports and play their favorite casino style games entirely for free. Launched in March 2024, ReBet has a community-centric approach that allows users to compete in contests and ride out picks with their friends using the patent pending "ReBet" feature. Through our innovative social media feed and easy-to-read lines, the ReBet App provides an engaging atmosphere that is accessible, inclusive and interactive for all, regardless of their traditional sports betting knowledge. ReBet provides access to official and real-time data for more than 60 professional and college sports leagues, offering an unmatched user experience. For more information on ReBet, please visit,
NBC Sports
29-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Toronto Argonauts get first right to negotiate a CFL contract with Shedeur Sanders
If Shedeur Sanders ever decides to play in the Canadian Football League, the Toronto Argonauts have the first rights to negotiate a contract with him. The Argonauts added Sanders to their negotiation list on Monday, according to TSN. That makes the Argonauts the team with the right to sign Sanders first if he becomes interested in playing in the CFL. Such a signing wouldn't happen this year, as the CFL season starts in June and Sanders' focus over the coming months will be making the Browns' roster. It's possible that Sanders won't even make the Browns, given that they have three other quarterbacks in Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel, but even in that scenario he'd likely be on a practice squad and focused on making an active roster. The highest-paid CFL players make about $600,000 a year, which is less than the NFL league minimum. The CFL salary cap is about $6 million, so it's not feasible for CFL teams to make competitive offers for NFL-caliber players. So from a financial standpoint, the CFL would only make sense for Sanders if he can't make an NFL team. But if he does end up in the CFL, Sanders wouldn't be the first highly touted Browns quarterback to do so. In 2014 the Browns drafted Johnny Manziel in the first round, and by 2018 Manziel was in the CFL. Sanders hopes not to follow Manziel's path.
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Texas A&M QB ranked high in ESPN's Top 90 college Quarterback rankings
Former Texas A&M QB ranked high in ESPN's Top 90 college Quarterback rankings Texas A&M's quarterback history has been muddled since Johnny Manziel exited College Station after two seasons, including his Heisman-winning 2012 campaign and the best season Texas A&M has had in the last decade. Despite his post-football troubles, Manziel's legacy lives on, and he is still considered one of the greatest athletes to ever grace the college football landscape. Manziel, who starred at Tivy High School for three years, produced 75 passing touchdowns and 78 rushing scores, and with dreams to play for the Texas Longhorns, rumors regarding former Texas head coach Mack Brown wanting Manziel to play defensive back were shot down but resulted in going in a different direction. While he originally intended to play for Oregon, former Texas A&M QB coach Tom Rossley sealed the deal. After redshirting during their 2011 freshman season, Manziel's entry into the college football zeitgeist was a slow build, surprisingly earning the starting QB job in the fall of 2012. Still, the Aggies' opening-season loss to Florida was the first step towards his stardom. Manziel's status skyrocketed, leading up to A&M's historic road win over No. 1 Alabama, and finishing the season with 3,706 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 1,410 rushing yards, and 21 scores. After winning Texas A&M's second-ever Heisman Trophy, Manziel's stats steadily increased through the air during the 2013 season, but the Aggies' struggling defense led to the future first-round pick having to pick up the slack offensively, leading to throwing for 4,114 yards and 37 touchdowns. After being drafted 22nd overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2014 NFL Draft, Manziel's career took a downturn, but his college success lives on. Last week, ESPN's Bill Connelly ranked the top 90 college quarterbacks in the 2000s. Manziel came in at No. 13, surprisingly one spot below Texas QB Coly McCoy. "Texas A&M won 20 games in the Johnny Football era, beat Alabama (and nearly did so twice) and immediately put to rest any silly "Yeah, but can that Big 12 offense work in the SEC?" qualms as the Aggies joined the league. But that alone doesn't describe just how much one player could dominate the sport's consciousness over multiple seasons. You couldn't take your eyes off of him because you really, really needed to see what he might do next." Johnny "Football" Manziel was pure excitement and created new football fans who still enjoy today's game. If he had stayed for one more season, I can safely say that Manziel would have been higher on the list. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
