Johnny Manziel Could Learn From Cam Newton

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel could learn plenty from speaking with Carolina Panthers superstar Cam Newton.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel and Carolina Panthers starting QB Cam Newton are more similar than you may think. Both Manziel and Newton got into some trouble during their college days. Both won the Heisman Trophy. Both were doubted by scouts and critics coming out of college. Both were perceived to be problem players who may not be worth the trouble for their teams.

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The revisionist history that some are writing regarding Newton’s career heading into Super Bowl 50 is fascinating, if only because his actual story is compelling on its own. Yes, Newton is right now the best QB in the National Football League. Newton earned the Most Valuable Player Award for the 2015 NFL regular season. Plenty of knowledgeable and respected football commentators are going to predict that Newton is going to outplay Peyton Manning en route to winning the Super Bowl on February 7.

It was only a few years ago, though, that it would not have been a stretch to suggest that Newton was closer to being a lost cause than a champion QB.

Scouting reports put out there by experts before the Panthers selected Newton with the first overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft now make for moments of comedy that are posted on social media websites such as Twitter. The criticisms of Newton had more to do with his personality and his character than his ability to spin a football or find the end zone.

Immature. Egotistical. A failure to command the respect of teammates. Not dependable. Newton was that and more during portions of his second NFL season. Newton pouting on the field and on the sidelines during games became such a thing that a Tumblr account was dedicated to such antics. Pat Yasinskas of ESPN wrote in October 2012 that Newton was “acting like a child” when things were not going all that great for the player or the Panthers.

It was that same fall when Newton and the Panthers were thoroughly dominated in front of a national television audience by the New York Giants. Newton was benched in favor of Derek Anderson during that game, something that clearly irked the second-year pro. Veteran wide receiver Steve Smith, who will one day be honored at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, lit into Newton on the field and when speaking with reporters after the game. Per Joseph Person of CharlotteObserver.com:

"“I watched D.A. and Jimmy (Clausen), they don’t play in 20-something games last year. And they get up and they observe and learn and get those mental reps,” Smith said. “I told him, ‘You can get some mental reps or you can sit on that bench and sulk.’”Smith, a team captain, said he used some “unchoice words” with Newton, who was criticized last year for putting a towel over his head and sitting on the bench at the end of losses.This is the second time in as many seasons the Panthers’ captains have talked to Newton about his demeanor. Offensive linemen Jordan Gross and Ryan Kalil took Newton aside last year and said he needed to bring more positive energy to the huddle."

Newton was just 23-years-old when this all went down.

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Newton’s improvement on and off of the field was a steady climb. The Panthers fired general manager Marty Hurney in the fall of 2012, and there were rumblings around the league the following year that the team could be interested in dealing Newton for the right price — a boatload of draft picks. Impressive numbers that Newton produced during the 2013 season were erased from memories because of a bad home playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, a game in which Colin Kaepernick outperformed Newton in every aspect of play.

2014 may have been the pivotal year of Newton’s career and possibly even his life. While he was again statistically solid, there were concerns about Newton’s longevity due to injuries that he dealt with throughout the year and also the perception that he was never going to develop into the type of QB who could win the big game or survive a full season in the league.

Then came the car accident that December.

A two-car accident resulted in Newton’s truck landing on its side and the quarterback suffering two fractured vertebrae. Newton, per Jim Corbett of USA Today, realized things could have been much worse, something he touched upon when speaking with reporters days after the accident.

"“I just can’t stop smiling because God has his hands on me,” Newton said. “I’m on somebody’s fantasy league (team). And I think it’s the man upstairs. It’s great to walk away from something like that.”"

Newton continued:

"“I’m looking at this truck and I’m like, ‘Somebody is supposed to be dead,'” Newton said. “And one thing I remember is that I really couldn’t talk afterwards because I was in such shock. I got myself out of the truck and I couldn’t stop smiling. One plus one is always going to equal two, right?“And I’m looking at this truck and looking at this accident. And I’m like, ‘Dude, one plus one doesn’t equal two.'”“I’m just lucky to come out of there unscathed with just a little injury I did have,” he said. “Every time I see that flashback or see that truck, I’m surprised that nothing seriously was done to me. I really appreciate everything from the simple prayers for you from fans, family members, peers and teammates.“That’s pretty much what got me through.”"

There is no way for us to know if Newton would have evolved into a MVP QB had that accident never occurred. One could deduce, from Newton’s words and from the way that he has seemingly approached matters since that fateful day, that accident was a life-changing event for the young man who is quickly becoming the face of the NFL, if he has not already arrived at that point.

Newton and Manziel are obviously different in many ways. Newton is built like a linebacker, and he can easily see over an offensive line. Manziel is a shade under 6-feet tall. Newton showed, in his rookie season, that he had the physical tools to be special. Manziel’s rookie season was largely a disaster, and he still has a ways to go even though he showed improvement in his second year.

Both Newton and Manziel like to go out and have fun, but their party lives should be considered to be one and the same.

We still do not know for sure why Manziel spent 91 days in a rehabilitation facility following the 2014 NFL season. That Manziel is partying it up in Dallas during the offseason would not be a cause for concern if not for that stint in rehab. A popular opinion being floated out there is that Manziel’s alleged problems are going to prevent him from being a winning NFL QB unless he receives additional help.

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Whether it is with the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys or some other NFL organization, Manziel is going to have to put in a ton of work if he is to prolong his career for any significant amount of time. Picking the brain of Newton this winter would be a solid place for Manziel to start. Like Newton only a few years ago, Manziel has a lot of maturing to do.

Manziel turned 23-years-old this past December.