Troy Aikman: NFL pounding could take toll on Johnny Manziel By Chase Goodbread College Football 24/7 writer NFL.comPublished: Jan. 9, 2014 at 08:44 p.m. 
NFL Photos/Associated Press Troy Aikman won three Super Bowls as quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Durability and maturity are the primary factors NFL general managers must evaluate in assessing the draft value of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, former Dallas Cowboys star quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman said Thursday. Speaking on KTCK-AM in Dallas, Aikman specifically questioned whether Manziel's smaller body could withstand the punishment NFL defenses will deliver, and whether the Aggies' third-year sophomore and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner will be the sort of quarterback clubs will want as a public representative. I think he'll be pretty good," Aikman said, according to The Dallas Morning News. "The concerns that I have would first of all, be his size. Can he take the pounding? I've never met him, so I'm not sure what his stature is, but he just seems like he's a pretty small guy, and maybe, I don't want to say fragile, but the punishment in the NFL could take a toll on him. So that would be concern No. 1." Manziel is listed at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, and suffered a few minor injuries as a sophomore after navigating his freshman season injury-free in 2012. If NFL clubs determine Manziel's career is at risk to be hampered or shortened by injury, that could have an adverse effect on his draft value. Aikman also brought up Manziel's maturity level. The No. 2 would be, not having sat and visited with him, how well can he be the face of a franchise? Is he mature enough to handle that responsibility? Is he going to commit himself to being a great NFL quarterback or are other things more important to him?" Aikman said. "If you can come out of those questions and say, 'Yeah, I believe he's big enough to withstand the punishment and I believe he is committed and he is going to do the right things because we're going to be paying him a lot of money,' then I think he's a first-round talent. I really do." Manziel has been projected as a first-round draft pick, and at least half of the teams picking in the draft's top 10 choices have a need at quarterback, according to NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah. More athletic quarterbacks are trending in the NFL recently, although not all have achieved success. Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks is the best young example of a skillful runner making his way in the league as a quarterback. Former first-round draft pick Tim Tebow, by contrast, could not find his way to a roster in 2013. Aikman's evaluation of Tebow coming out of the University of Florida was a glowing one, according to the Tampa Bay Times."He can do it all," Aikman said in December 2009 prior to Tebow being drafted by the Denver Broncos No. 25 overall in 2010. "He's been doing the whole wildcat before it even became in vogue in the NFL. I don't know exactly where he's going to go or high he might be. But I'll tell you this. He's a guy I'd like to have on my team. And I think with his leadership ability and his athletic skills, a team can find a place to play him where he can make a real impact for an NFL club." Tebow recently took a job as a college football analyst with the SEC Network but is maintaining efforts to make a comeback in the NFL, working with private instructors to reinvent the slower delivery that scouts marked as one of his drawbacks. Manziel, for his part, hasn't had his delivery scrutinized as much as his reckless style of play, and unwillingness to take a sack or throw the ball out of bounds on broken plays. Nevertheless, Manziel was much improved as a passer between 2012 and 2013, increasing his touchdown passes from 26 to 37, completing a higher percentage of his passes (68 to 70 percent) and taking fewer sacks (22 to 19). Aikman saw that progress, and was especially impressed with Manziel's play against then-No. 1-ranked Alabama on Sept. 14."From what I've seen, he's a playmaker," Aikman added. "The criticisms I know coming into this year were that he didn't throw the ball as effectively as he needed to. I haven't seen him play a lot, but I saw him play against Alabama, I saw him play a couple of other times and he made throws that -- they weren't these schoolyard throws. They were in the pocket, getting the ball out, reading the defense. And I was impressed."So, with those questions, and the biggest one being the intangibles, I think he's got the chance to have a really big career." Manziel threw five touchdown passes against the Crimson Tide in a 49-42 loss, and all five of them illustrated Aikman's point, being thrown from the pocket on different types of routes and in some cases, off multiple reads.
A lot of really smart guys are saying Manziel has the ability to really shine. Concern one is his size. Legit concern. But not enough to warrant passing him up. Concern two is his maturity. Legit as well. He has solid family around him. He has always had money so he isn't bound to change all that much. He parties like a millionaire because he is one (basically). I think Lovie, Tedford, mike Will, VinnieJ, and Dougernaut make the environment a lot calmer for the young man. Just draft him. Everyone has the potential to bust. Roll em! This kid could be the start of a serious contender for years. Just Do It! Draft JFF!
fan or not one has to admit, this guy is special. He would have won every game in college had it not been for his terrible defense at A&M. Even Alabama was no match for him.
I'm curious to see his true measurments at the combine . Is he really 6'1 200 pounds or is he really 5'10 175 pounds like he looks. Makes a big difference in my eyes.Arm strength concerns me too .....can he throw the deep out into a tight window with enough zip on this level ??All questions I need answered before spending a top 10 pick. The off the field stuff doesn't really concern me , just a kid being a kid. He'll grow out of that.
Troy Aikman = HOF QB not a talent scout.I'm not arguing about JFF talent, it's there. My concern is that his style won't be nearly as effective in the NFL as much of his game involves creating. He may do well, who knows, but he's not the kind of QB I would like to see us go with.
Every time I see the guy, I think of Doug Flutie. Both smaller guys with great sandlot game but with big hearts...major difference to me is the rep off the field. Probably the biggest risk/reward scenario of this draft...
Troy Aikman = HOF QB not a talent scout.I'm not arguing about JFF talent, it's there. My concern is that his style won't be nearly as effective in the NFL as much of his game involves creating. He may do well, who knows, but he's not the kind of QB I would like to see us go with.
What about QB coach who worked with Eli and P Manning?His endorsement not worthy because he isn't a talent scout?
A lot of really smart guys are saying Manziel has the ability to really shine. Concern one is his size. Legit concern. But not enough to warrant passing him up. Concern two is his maturity. Legit as well. He has solid family around him. He has always had money so he isn't bound to change all that much. He parties like a millionaire because he is one (basically). I think Lovie, Tedford, mike Will, VinnieJ, and Dougernaut make the environment a lot calmer for the young man. Just draft him. Everyone has the potential to bust. Roll em! This kid could be the start of a serious contender for years. Just Do It! Draft JFF!
I really don't doubt Manziel could play in the NFL, I just don't know if I can trust his to stay out of trouble and hence, on the field (see Justin Blackmon - not the drugs aspect, but the constant suspensions). I think Manziel's 'I'm above the law' attitude will be a problem. I'd rather someone else take the risk.
I think Manziel will be fine in the NFL. It make take him longer than some to adjust his game, but the reward out weights the risk by a lot. The rookie scale helps make picks like this a lot easier to make. If he doesn't work out you won't have 40+ million invested in him.
Manziel is a dynamic player but a Gronk off the field. If you need maturity at QB then this is not the guy we need.
i like manziel; nevertheless, some of the concerns around him (except character) remind me of Doug Flutie.
Troy Aikman = HOF QB not a talent scout.I'm not arguing about JFF talent, it's there. My concern is that his style won't be nearly as effective in the NFL as much of his game involves creating. He may do well, who knows, but he's not the kind of QB I would like to see us go with.
What about QB coach who worked with Eli and P Manning?His endorsement not worthy because he isn't a talent scout?
It's worth something, just not very much. The ringing endorsement he made of Tebow tells me he may be looking at things differently than a scout. I can accept the fact that we may very well draft JFF to be our QB. I don't hate Manziel, I've been trying to give him a chance to win me over because he may very well be our QB. I think Aikmen sees all the other things when he looks at Manziel, just like with Tebow. He's see the atleticism, he sees arm strength, accuracy, etc.... But all of that matter naught if he can't function in the primary role he'll be in as a NFL quarterback, pocket passing. Can he stand in the pocket without happy feet, scan the field, work his progression and deliver the ball. Sure I've seen him do that a few times, I've also watched him leave the pocket for no reason, throw across his body back to the center of the field, throw jump balls all over and in general turn the ball over, a lot. I think fumbles and INTs are going to be a big problem for him if he plays like he did in college. I've said it for a while now. If you have the ability to run the urge to escape the pocket and run is very strong. It also is a huge barrier to being a high functioning pocket passer in the NFL.
Well ny, that's why the glazers brought in lovie.We can have a risky playmaker if the defense operates properly.
In the NFL, a QB needs the attribute of PATIENCE paired with confidence to avoid making a tough situation much worse.
Two years at A&M wasn't enough...IMO
