Johnny Manziel Files to Protect Johnny Football Trademark

Johnny Manziel's lawyer filed paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to ensure the former Heisman Trophy winner retains the "Johnny Football" trademark, according to ESPN.com's Darren Rovell.

Kenneth R. Reynolds Family Investments originally filed for the trademark in 2012. Rovell reported in 2014 the College Station, Texas-based investment firm lost a decision by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that awarded the trademark rights to Manziel.

"Registration is refused because the applied-for mark consists of or includes a name, portrait or signature identifying a particular living individual whose written consent to register the mark is not of record," an attorney for the office wrote in the decision.

In September 2014, Rovell wrote that Manziel and his company, JMan2 Enterprises LLC, had filed for additional trademarks including "Johnny Cleveland," "JFF" and "The House That Johnny Built," which referred to the Texas A&M Aggies' Kyle Field.

Manziel hasn't played in the NFL since Week 16 of the 2015 season. The Cleveland Browns waived the 23-year-old in March, two years after selecting him with the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 draft.

In June, ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler spoke to sources close to Manziel and NFL insiders who said the earliest he'd likely return to the league is 2017.