Johnny Manziel Comments on Media Spotlight, Browns' QB Competition

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel finds himself in an unusual but welcome position in his second NFL training camp: in the background.   

Yet, it seems Manziel is taking to a role out of the spotlight as he seeks to establish himself as an NFL player after a disastrous two-game stretch as a starter in 2014. 

Speaking to the media Thursday, per ESPN.com's Pat McManamon, Manziel seemed relieved not to be under the media microscope like he has been in previous years: "It's nice to come out here and wear any kind of shoes that I want and it's not the main story the next day."

Last year, Manziel was creating his own stories, with Mary Kay Cabot of Northeast Ohio Media Group reporting in July 2014 the Browns were already shocked by his "non-stop antics" away from the playing field.

Now, Manziel noted his entire routine has changed, and it is leading to better results on the field. 

"It's night-and-day difference from last year," Manziel said. "It's night and day from the first day even coming out here. I'm pleased with the progression of getting better and coming out some of these days and having a high completion percentage and getting the ball where it needs to go."

Manziel said he is "100 percent" happy not being the subject of hype and attention, and went on to say being one of 90 players on the roster is "so nice."

As far as the Browns' starting quarterback situation, with veteran Josh McCown also on the roster, Manziel just plans to go through the preseason and do his best work on the field to give head coach Mike Pettine a difficult decision to make:

"

[I'm] just another guy on the team, and I think everybody is responding well. I'm just happy to be out here and coming to work every day. It's a lot of fun. It's a lot of fun with the staff we have. It's a lot of fun with the guys we have in this locker room. I can honestly say that coming to work every day is not a drag. It's a lot of fun.

"

Manziel's teammate, Joe Thomas, voiced his confidence in the quarterback, via Cabot:

"

He's really proved to a lot of people that this is important to him and he's ready to be an NFL starting quarterback. Playing well in the scrimmage tonight and looking like an NFL quarterback is another good step in the direction that he wants to go. He's just earning that trust of his teammates that he's going to need to do if he wants to be that starter. He impressed a lot of people out here tonight.'

"

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller gave his take on Manziel and McCown's competition on Team Stream Now:

Manziel appeared in five games in 2014, and he went 18-of-35 with no touchdown passes and two interceptions. His issues away from the field led him to enter a rehab center in the offseason that appears to have helped him find perspective. 

With all of the non-football distractions out of the way, Manziel has to prove his skills can translate to the NFL. He doesn't have to be the focal point of practice anymore, even though the spotlight is always on quarterbacks. 

Even if Manziel isn't given a chance to start for the Browns in Week 1, he's an asset the team will make use of throughout the season. He's putting the work in on and off of the field, which is a huge step in the right direction.