As Johnny Manziel tries to put out a media brushfire at SEC Media Days, a report says he was problem from the beginning of his time at the Manning Passing Academy before he left the camp early last weekend. The report also says his parents had to call in sick for him before he was dismissed.
The New York Daily News, citing an anonymous source, said that the Texas A&M quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner arrived late to the camp on Thursday and missed a meeting. Then, again according to the source, Manziel was late to early Friday training sessions.
The report goes on to say that on Saturday morning Manziel could not be found and camp officials called his parents. Manziel’s parents called back "hours later" to say their son was too sick to participate.
At that point, the Mannings – Archie, Peyton and Eli – decided it was best for Manziel to go home.
On Wednesday, before the assembled national and SEC media, Manziel disputed this and other reports that he was hung over at the camp. Manziel said he simply overslept because his cell phone was dead and that it was a mutual decision for him to leave early.
"I wasn't football-ready," Manziel said. "I was tired. It was exhausting. It had nothing to do with activities the night before. It had nothing to do with anything involving the Manning family. (It was) just a really busy schedule. I probably bit off more than I could chew in that regard."
Manziel's coach at Texas A&M, Kevin Sumlin, said that he received a call from the Manning camp about Manziel’s early departure.
While it may seem easy to dismiss a sourced report from a New York media outlet about an incident involving a camp in Louisiana, the Manning Passing Academy attracts media from all over hoping to gain access to the high-profile quarterbacks present, including Eli Manning who plays for the New York Giants.
