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Marques Johnson Jersey .com) - The harshest of Johnny Manziels critics didnt think it would be this bad. The lightning rod that is Johnny Football was an abject mess in his first NFL start, completing 10-of-18 for 80 yards with two first-half interceptions as Clevelands playoff hopes nosedived in a similar trajectory to Manziels stock with a 30-0 setback to the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals. There were flashes but they were brief, Browns coach Mike Pettine said in a laughably kind review of Manziels performance. Seemingly every Bengals defender got a chance to flash the former Heisman Trophy winners signature money-sign celebration to the FirstEnergy Stadium crowd, essentially mocking Manziel for his inability to get anything done offensively. Of course, he kind of brought that on himself, Bengals defensive end Wallace Gilberry quipped. The Browns made the switch from the limited Brian Hoyer to Manziel to provide a spark in an effort to keep their fading playoff hopes alive. However, that spark was never fanned. In his first 30 minutes, Manziel was 4-for-9 for 22 yards and a 12.0 passer rating and things never really turned around as Cleveland, which has lost three in a row, totaled 107 yards of total offense and had six three-and-outs. I saw the field fine today, but when it came down to it, I just need to throw the ball and let it rip, and I didnt do a very good job of that, Manziel understated. About the only positive you could take from Manziels performance was the fact he didnt make any excuses. Nobody wants to win (in the locker room) more than I do, and its tough to come out there and lay an egg like that, Manziel said. Im not using the rookie excuse. I needed to play better. Taking accountability was a first step but anyone who was surprised this happened to Manziel wasnt paying attention in the offseason. The disastrous debut already took place in the summer months, and this was just the next logical step in what has been a terrible rookie season for him. If you really want to know just how bad Manziels first few months as a pro went consider this, at least two organizations trying to pump up their own young quarterbacks coined the term anti-Manziel to describe them. Sources close to both the Eagles and Vikings used it to trumpet Nick Foles understated leadership style, as well as Teddy Bridgewaters willingness to work before the campaign began. The Browns, meanwhile, watched as their young QB jetted off to Hollywood, Sin City or the Lone Star State every time he had a free moment. The knock on Johnny from those close to Texas A&M was always his work ethic, with far too many whispering that he showed up on Saturdays content to let his athletic ability spell the difference. And too often it did. A lot of observers harp on Manziels perceived sense of entitlement, and its an issue but not for the reason you may think. The fact that Manziels family is well off is inconsequential, the entitlement that hurts the rookie is his previous success with the Aggies. Manziel assumed the NFL was going to be just as easy as college and no matter how many people got in his ear, he laughed it off. After all, he had heard the same narrative at Texas A&M and it wasnt true. The wake-up call came Sunday. Alabama may be a big deal, but its not the Cincinnati Bengals. All week everybody wanted to make the game about (Manziel), Gilberry said. We just took that out and focused on what we do. We were able to come out and put on a pretty good show. Everything was about Manziel all week, linebacker Rey Maualuga, who was penalized for taunting Manziel at one point, added. We just focused on us. We focused on what we needed to do to stop the kid and stop their offense. Manziel was inaccurate, looked painfully slow against NFL defenders, and his mechanics were as sloppy as advertised. He didnt play well. He looked like a rookie, played like a rookie, Pettine admitted. I know a lot of it was we didnt play well around him, but he made some obvious mistakes that typically a veteran quarterback wont make. I never felt overwhelmed out there, Manziel countered. It was never too difficult. Unless Manziel accepts its going to be difficult moving forward, hes in deep trouble. This is the tip of the iceberg, Manziel claimed. This organization drafted me, and I think going into it I even knew one bad start, Im not going to be written off forever.
Jon McGlocklin Jersey . Minutes after the previously winless Colts got their first win, 27-13 over Tennessee, team vice chairman Bill Polian said the four-time league MVP will not play this season though he has begun throwing to teammates at the team complex.
Toni Kukoc Jersey . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not. LONDON -- Jermain Defoe retained his place in the England squad for the friendly against Denmark despite his impending move to Canada, but playing in Major League Soccer might harm his chances of making the World Cup. Defoe, who has 19 goals in 55 England games, has appeared in only two Tottenham games in two months as he prepares to head to Toronto FC for the start of MLS next month. "You cant deny of course that playing for Toronto cant be put on a par with playing in the Premier League -- nobody would expect me to say that," England coach Roy Hodgson said on Thursday. "And all these factors will be taken into consideration when we make a (squad) decision." But Hodgson stressed that playing for Toronto "wont necessarily count against" the striker if his goal-scoring touch also travels with him. "I would judge it on the player, what the player brings, what I think he will add to the squad, and there will be an element of his form and how hes playing at the moment," Hodgson said. Defoe was included in the 30-man squad for Wednesdays Denmark game at the expense of Andy Carroll, who made five appearances for West Ham since returning from a foot injury in January before being suspended for a red card. "Carroll has hardly played but we will be keeping an eye on him," Hodgson said. Also, Southampton defender Luke Shaw was called up for the first time ahead of the World Cup. The 18-year-old Shaw has a chance to stake his claim for a place in the World Cup squad in the last friendly before Hodgsoon names his players in May.
Brandon Jennings Jersey. "Anyone who has watched him play recently will not deny he deserves a place in a large squad like this," Hodgson said. "He has played extremely well and is a very exciting talent." Shaw, one of four Southampton players in the squad, will be competing for a place at left back with veteran Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines. After the Denmark game, England has three friendlies before the World Cup -- against Peru at Wembley on May 30 before heading to Miami to play Ecuador and Honduras. At the World Cup, England plays Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in Group D. ------ England: Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Steven Caulker (Cardiff), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham) Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) Strikers: Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Jay Rodriguez (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United) ' ' '