Former Cleveland Browns Quarterback Johnny Manziel Revists Infamous Skip Bayless Quote Claiming He Would be Bigger Than Lebron James; ‘I Honestly Feel Like I Let Him Down’

During an episode of Club Shay Shay with Shannon Sharpe, the NFL Hall of Famer turned media personality brought up the now famous quote from Fox Sports’ Skip Bayless saying, “People are saying Johnny Manziel will be bigger than Lebron James in Cleveland.” Manziel, the former first-round pick of the Browns, didn’t mince words when talking about his appreciation for Bayless but also his disappointment in a failed NFL career.

“I think that person is Skip Bayless. Skip, I love you, bro. I hope you know it’s always love. I honestly feel like I let him down. I remember watching First Take religiously and seeing him come on there and ride for me when everything was going on. I remember seeing the passion in his voice and how he was animated when talking about me. So when I signed and went to Cleveland, this ‘John Manziel will be bigger than Lebron,’ like okay, you have got your clickbait, you got your headlines for that week type of thing. It was never ever going to be a reality.”

Manziel continued, “What I did, and the way I carried myself, and the way that I was in my time here in Cleveland was blatant disrespect to them.” Manziel believes he let down Lebron James and his best friend and marketing tycoon Maverick Carter, who both tried taking the quarterback under their guidance but with much pushback. 

“LeBron James would text me every week to come over and watch a game or play poker with the boys… I was so depressed that even the biggest role model in my life couldn’t get me out of bed to hang out with him,” said Manziel. The former Texas A&M megastar blamed himself for how he carried himself while with the Cleveland Browns. 

“The shame I have for letting guys down like Cedric Ogbuehi, Jake Matthews, and Mike Evans is the same shame that I carry with me to this day about letting down Joe Thomas. A guy at the end of his Hall of Fame career is looking for someone to come in and lead this team, and you get me. It’s embarrassing to have been the guy that led down some overall great athletes of my time and generation.”  

Cleveland Browns QB Johnny Manziel: Disastourous Two-Year NFL Career

The Cleveland Browns selected Johnny Manziel in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft despite his short stature and questionable antics in college. However, the Browns took a chance on the five-foot-eleven Manziel after taking the football world by storm during his time with the Texas A&M Aggies. However, Manziel quickly became a problem child with the Browns. His work ethic was criticized as a rookie. He also had a run-in with the law during his second season for a fight with his then-girlfriend. Manziel also had issues partying, including during the nights before the games.

Manziel finished his two-year NFL career with 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 14 games. The Browns went 2-6 with Manziel as the starting quarterback. Cleveland won just one game the two seasons after Manziel’s release. They did not post a winning record until 2020, six years after using their first-round pick to acquire Manziel.