National Football League

Manziel: No hard feelings about Lewis comment

Published Dec. 10, 2014 4:56 p.m. ET

foxsports

BEREA, Ohio -- The long and short of it is that Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis just spoke before he thought when he called Johnny Manziel a midget.

"My comment on the radio was stupid," Lewis said Wednesday, addressing the fact that he's addressed it multiple times since he said it Monday night. "It's an important football game regardless of that. I don't get to play. Johnny does."

Sunday, Manziel makes his first NFL start in that important football game as the Cleveland Browns try to keep their faint playoff hopes alive vs. the Bengals. On that now infamous radio show, Lewis answered a question about adjusting to Manziel's mobility by saying "you defend the offense. You don't defend a player, particularly a midget."

Formal apologies followed.

Manziel, who's listed at 6-foot, said Wednesday he laughed it off.

"My height is my height," Manziel said. "I'm not going to sprout five inches."

Manziel mentioned that he never heard anyone say Drew Brees is too small to play quarterback in the NFL.

That's a lofty comparison. Pun intended.

Browns coach Mike Pettine said he discussed the comments with Lewis. Pettine said he didn't think Lewis' remark was indicative of opposing coaches' opinions of Manziel, who's played in three games but never for more than two series.

Because of Manziel's college success and off-field celebrity, he's a known commodity. And a target. Lewis slipped, has apologized and the Browns don't seem to think it was anything more than just a comment that didn't need to be made.