Johnny Manziel's Car Crash in April Reportedly Being Investigated by NFL

The NFL is looking into a car crash involving former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel that TMZ sources said is part of a "larger Manziel investigation which is ongoing."

TMZ Sports reported further details of the news. Manziel said he was the passenger in a rented Mercedes Benz that smashed into a light pole in Los Angeles last month. His role in the crash is unclear, though the car's owner said Manziel promised to buy a new vehicle.   

The Cleveland Browns released Manziel, 23, in March after two disappointing seasons. A first-round pick in 2014, Manziel threw for 1,675 yards and seven touchdowns against seven interceptions across 15 appearances (eight starts).

While his poor on-field performance was enough for Cleveland to move on, it's Manziel's off-field behavior that's at the root of his NFL departure. He has dealt with alcohol issues dating back to his time at Texas A&M and checked into a rehabilitation facility in January 2015. Then in October, Manziel admitted to drinking after police pulled him over amid an argument with his then-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley.

The Browns tried and failed multiple times to corral his behavior. Former coach Mike Pettine benched Manziel after he lied about partying during the team's bye week in November, and video surfaced of a concussed Manziel drinking in Las Vegas the night before the Browns' regular-season finale. 

A domestic violence investigation appeared to be Manziel's final straw in Cleveland. He allegedly hit and threatened to kill Crowley, who said the force of Manziel hitting her caused her to temporarily lose hearing. A Dallas grand jury indicted Manziel on a misdemeanor assault charge in April.

The NFL has not punished Manziel for any off-field actions. It's likely the league will allow the legal process to play out before doing so, though a conviction is not required under the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Manziel has not worked out with any NFL team since his release and is currently without an agent. Drew Rosenhaus fired Manziel earlier this offseason after imploring the young quarterback to get help. Rosenhaus represented him for only two months after Erik Burkhardt, his former agent, dumped him as a client.

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