Second thoughts

Manziel hopes for better '15

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel did not lead his team on a touchdown drive in six quarters as a starter this season.
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel did not lead his team on a touchdown drive in six quarters as a starter this season.

Two days after he gave what amounted to a concession speech following a game in which he struggled and was injured, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel opened up Tuesday on his rookie season and where he hopes to go in the future.

"I have to take this a lot more seriously," Manziel said.

Strangely, he also said he doesn't believe he would have done anything differently in his rookie season.

That season consisted of two starts, three cameo appearances and not much success. Manziel has been shut down for the season after suffering a hamstring injury in the second quarter of a loss at Carolina last Sunday. In his six quarters as a starter, the Browns didn't score a touchdown.

Going back to last May, though, Manziel appeared in plenty of Instagram photos and appeared to have plenty of fun. In November he was involved in an early-morning fight in his Cleveland apartment complex after being approached by what he called an overzealous fan. No one was charged.

The Browns would like Manziel, who turned 22 earlier this month and was drafted at No. 22 overall last spring, to be their quarterback of the future. And Manziel made clear that he thinks he can be that.

"I came in here as a kid with a college mind-set," Manziel said. "That has absolutely faded from my mind."

Of his work habits, Manziel admits he "hasn't painted the greatest picture of myself being in here and being on top of my stuff" but said he believes his teammates have seen him work and believe he's committed to being a successful NFL player.

"I'll make sure I'm healthy and come back for [offseason work] ready to go," he said. "I want to be the guy here.

"I'm not the same guy who came in here. It's been a year of growing up for me. I don't think it would be fair to give up on somebody after seven quarters of football. This is my job. I want to take it seriously and take it that way every single day."

Rodgers scores again

'Tis the season for quarterbacks to get nice gifts for the offensive linemen who protect them from hungry and gnarly pass rushers throughout the football year.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers certainly wasn't immune from such generosity. Thus, according to ESPN Milwaukee's Jason J. Wilde, Rodgers gifted each of his linemen with a 55-inch Samsung TV for Christmas, leaving the electronics in their lockers Wednesday morning.

But don't think that Rodgers forgot about backup quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien. They got their gifts as well.

Another loss for 76ers?

Andrei Kirilenko only played 36 minutes for the Brooklyn Nets before being traded this season.

The Philadelphia 76ers traded for the Nets' Andrei Kirilenko in early December, but Kirilenko has yet to suit up for the 3-23 Sixers.

Kirilenko is staying in the New York area because of a family-related health issue, but Kirilenko and his agents have also told the Sixers that he doesn't want to play for the team, Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

They'd prefer the Sixers waive or buy out Kirilenko, so he'd be paid the remainder of his $3.3 million salary and become a free agent immediately.

However, Sixers GM Sam Hinkie told Kirilenko and his camp that the Sixers have no plans to buy him out, so they're asking him to report to Philadelphia to get in shape and get ready to play, Yahoo reports.

QUIZ

Where did Andrei Kirilenko begin his NBA career?

ANSWER

The Utah Jazz in 2001

Sports on 12/25/2014

Upcoming Events