Cleveland Browns
Cops investigating Johnny Manziel again; dad fears son is suicidal
Cleveland Browns

Cops investigating Johnny Manziel again; dad fears son is suicidal

Published Feb. 5, 2016 8:39 p.m. ET

UPDATE: Johnny Manziel's ex-girlfriend released a statement to WFAA-TV confirming her decision to cooperate with police.

Johnny Manziel is under investigation again, the Dallas Police Department announced Friday night after receiving a complaint of domestic violence that allegedly occured Jan. 30.

Manziel faced allegations that he hit former girlfriend Colleen Crowley last weekend in Texas, but on Thursday both Dallas and Fort Worth police announced they would not be filing charges. WFAA TV reports that Crowley is now pursuing a case against the quarterback, who has denied hitting her.

Police said detectives would determine what, if any, criminal charges Manziel would face. They noted it is not uncommon for victims of domestic violence to question or delay reporting an assault.

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Earlier on Friday, a judge in Tarrant County, Texas, issued an order of protection, which states that the Cleveland Browns quarterback must stay away from Crowley for two years.

It's been a disastrous week for Manziel, whose personal troubles have thrown his career and life into disarray. Crowley told police Manziel struck her ''several times'' at a Dallas hotel and later when they drove back to her apartment in Fort Worth. The Browns have indicated he will be released next month after two tumultuous seasons.

''I truly believe if they can't get him help, he won't live to see his 24th birthday,'' Manziel's father, Paul, told The Dallas Morning News.

Manziel's father said the family has made two unsuccessful attempts in the past week to get Manziel into a rehab clinic.

Manziel agreed to go to the Enterhealth Ranch addiction facility in Van Alstyne, Texas, but he would not stay, Paul Manziel told the Morning News. He tried to have his son admitted Tuesday to Carrollton Springs Hospital, but Manziel was allowed to leave. Paul Manziel said he told a Denton County sheriff's officer he believed his son to be suicidal.

The Associated Press left messages seeking comment for Manziel, his parents and a lawyer who represented the player when he was at Texas A&M.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, who entered the NFL with a party-boy reputation, spent 73 days last winter in a Pennsylvania treatment center specializing in care for alcohol and drug dependency.

The disturbing portrait of Manziel comes as his agent dropped the 23-year-old quarterback as a client Friday.

Erik Burkhardt said that with ''deep regret'' he has ended the business relationship. He added that he made his decision after ''several emotional and very personal discussions with his family, his doctors and my client himself.''

''Though I will remain a friend and Johnny supporter, and he knows I have worked tirelessly to arrange a number of professional options for him to continue to pursue, it has become painfully obvious that his future rests solely in his own hands,'' the agent said in a statement.

''His family and I have gone to great lengths to outline the steps we feel he must take to get his life in order. Accountability is the foundation of any relationship, and without it the function of my work is counterproductive. I truly wish the best for Johnny and sincerely hope he can, and will, find the kind of peace and happiness he deserves.''

Burkhardt isn't the first to cut business ties with Manziel. LeBron James' marketing agency ended its association with him last month. The Cleveland Cavaliers star did not want to discuss Manziel following a morning shootaround.

''I've already voiced my opinion on his situation,'' James said. ''I'm not going to do it again. I think that's the last thing I need to be talking about is his incidents. That doesn't make it any better. I wasn't there. I don't know what happened, so who am I to say he was right or he was wrong? I wasn't there.''

On Tuesday, the Browns released a strong statement in which the team indicated it will release Manziel as early as March 9, when the league begins its new calendar year.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters on Friday that he hasn't been able to reach the quarterback.

"Johnny has not responded to us, but we'll do anything we can to help him personally and our thoughts and prayers are with Johnny and his family," Haslam told reporters in San Francisco ahead of the Super Bowl. "We're not worried about Johnny Manziel the football player, we're worried about Johnny Manziel the person, and I think that's all we need to say on the issue."

Also, the league is looking into whether Manziel violated its personal-conduct policy. A league spokesman said Friday the inquiry is ongoing. Manziel was cleared of any wrongdoing last year after he and Crowley got into a heated roadside argument near the player's home.

Crowley was inside her Fort Worth apartment Friday but was not seeing visitors.

"She's getting some help right now. That's where we are," her father, David Crowley, told the AP.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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