THE JURY IS still out on Johnny Manziel who divides US sporting opinion like Eamon Dunphy and George Hook in a Marmite sandwich (consider that image for a moment).
The young quarterback is at the NFL Combine this week where America’s top teams are sizing up the best college talent ahead of the annual draft.
Nobody knows whether “Johnny Football” will go in the first round or be left sitting on the board and Barry Switzer, who coached the Dallas Cowboys to the Super Bowl in 1996, summed up that ambiguity this week.
“I don’t like his antics,” Switzer said and he didn’t hold back.
I think he’s an arrogant little prick. I’ve said that and I’ll say it again.He’s a privileged kid, he’s embarrassed himself, he’s embarrassed his teammates, his program. He’s embarrassed his coach. And they’ll all have to defend him because they have to coach. I know that. I spent 40 years in the damn game so I know how it works.
So far, so clear — but Switzer then goes on to describe Manziel, 21, as “the best I’ve seen.”
“I’ve never seen a quarterback in college football take control of a game like he does and put up the numbers he does. It’s fantastic what he’s done against good competition.
“He’s the most dominant, most dynamic college quarterback I’ve ever seen.”
That clears that up then…