National Football League

New Browns OC says Manziel is working hard to become NFL quarterback

Published May. 11, 2015 11:53 a.m. ET

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Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo is encouraged by what he's seen so far of Johnny Manziel in the team's voluntary workouts.

Manziel has been spending the maximum amount of time allowed in the Browns' facilities during early offseason workouts, a sign that DeFilippo thinks Manziel is ready to take the next step toward becoming an NFL quarterback.

"All I know is this: From the moment he stepped in this building from the last two weeks, he's been nothing but a consummate professional,'' DeFilippo said via Cleveland.com. "He's spent every hour that he's been allowed to spend in this building. From that standpoint, like I said I can't predict the future, but all I can do is tell you right now Johnny Manziel is putting himself in a position to be a quarterback in the NFL."

DeFilippo also had positive things to say after reviewing Manziel's game footage from last year despite Manziel's inauspicious rookie season.

"First of all, I think he has fairly good arm strength," DeFilippo said. "I think he gets the ball out of his hand fast. I think Johnny has a lot of traits that good quarterbacks in this league have. It's just a matter of getting better at them."

DeFilippo has worked with mobile quarterbacks in the past, and he's said he's not going to try to change Manziel's style.

"I'm the last guy -- the last guy -- that's going to take Johnny Manziel's athleticism away from him. I will not do that. I refuse to do that. Okay? And I told Terrelle Pryor the same thing (in Oakland). 'That's part of your game.' Now, we need to refine the other part to make you the complete quarterback.'''

Manziel seems to be doing all the right things since spending 10 weeks in inpatient rehab. Now we'll see if he can take the next step toward unseating Josh McCown as the Browns' starting quarterback.

h/t: Video via Cleveland.com.