Browns To Cut Ties With Johnny Manziel

Quarterback Johnny Manziel’s time with the Cleveland Browns will come to an end in March, when the new league year officially begins, according to a source close to ESPN’s Pat McManamon.

Browns To Cut Ties With Johnny Manziel

Manziel took heavy criticism following an incident last weekend in which Fort Worth, Tex.,  police officers were sent to investigate whether an altercation between the QB and an ex-girlfriend included a “possible assault,” according to the department’s report.

Browns director of football operations Sashi Brown released a statement regarding Manziel’s behavior, which she also posted on Twitter on Tuesday:

“We’ve been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field. Johnny’s continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules.”

Although Manziel was not arrested following the investigation this weekend, the woman told police she’d been involved in a disturbance with Manziel earlier in the evening in Dallas. Forth Worth and Dallas Police are still working together to assess whether a criminal offense actually occurred.

This is not the first incident Manziel has been involved in recently. Last month, the QB was reportedly seen in disguise in Las Vegas the night before missing a scheduled appointment in Ohio on the day of the team’s last game of the season, which he was supposed to miss due to a concussion he had been diagnosed with during the previous game.

The Browns will not be able to release Manziel until March 9, when the new NFL year begins, due to the league’s salary-cap rules.

CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 30: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 30, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)