Manziel talks AAF experience, college shenanigans and future at A&M

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — Kerrville native and former Texas A&M University quarterback Johnny Manziel continues to look for work in the football business.

“I miss the competition,” Manziel told national radio sports talk host Dan Patrick Monday. “That was the best part of getting into the AAF.  It was just getting out there and I felt like the competition level out there was good.  I felt like I was getting better week in and week out after only being there two or three weeks.  I just miss getting the chance to compete.  If you don’t stay on it and create a schedule for yourself that’s similar to a work day… you can slip a little bit here and there.”

His stint in the AAF was cut short when league folded just weeks after he joined the Memphis Express.

Since then, Manziel has been considered an option for the XFL team in Houston.

Johnny Football also talked to Patrick about his long-term future, his college lifestyle and his name.

Earlier this year, he stated he preferred to be called John instead of Johnny.  That switch flopped fast.

“Everywhere that I went for the next four or five days, people would come up to me and apologize to me for calling me Johnny.  It took me about four or five days for it really to get old to being called John and I transitioned back very, very quickly,” Manziel stated.  “Johnny fits me a lot better than John did, for sure.”

But the former college football star said he didn’t regret much about his college experience, despite how others may think about it.

“I probably caused a little sleepless nights for the coach here and there,” said Manziel. “But my mindset in college that got me in a little bit of trouble was: I’m a college kid going out and doing what every other kid in America is doing on a Thursday or Friday night.  I didn’t see anything wrong with that.  I wasn’t going to apologize for that whatsoever.  When you get into a professional setting… that all has to change.  I probably held on to that for a little too long and probably should have changed my ways a little it.  But at the time, I was living my best life in college, playing football in the SEC having the time of my life and I’m never going to apologize for that.”

As for his future, Manziel said is still looking for an opportunity to keep slinging around the football, whether it be with the XFL, NFL or any other league that comes about.

Patrick asked Manziel if he was a fan of the Cleveland Browns, especially after they loaded up with talent to support quarterback Baker Mayfield.  The former Browns quarterback said he was proud of everyone on the team, but stated he is not a fan of any particular NFL team after having been involved in the business.

When the time does come to end his playing career, Manziel said a few ideas have his interest.

“One thing that for sure interests me is being back around Texas A&M in whatever capacity that is,” the former star quarterback told Patrick.  “I have a good relationship with [coach] Jimbo Fisher, a good relationship with the school.  It’s a place that means a lot to me and place that I want to tie myself to for the long-term moving forward after my football career would be over.”

He said he is in College Station fairly frequently, hanging around the football program.

“I just pop in there and go watch film.  I have a good relationship with Kellen Bond, a guy who I think is going to have a breakout year and has a ton of potential, and just try to help him learn from some of the things I went through, some of the things I struggled with in college that I wish I had a chance to go back and do a little bit differently.”

Despite his excitement for whatever future he wants to pursue off the field, Manziel is still looking to play.

“I just want a ball in my hand and I just want to keep playing football.  Wherever that is, whatever the opportunities are that present itself moving forward, I’m just trying to do one thing: keep my head down, stay in shape and keep going in every aspect of my life,” the Kerrville native stated.  “I still feel like I have a lot left in the tank.  Not sure it was exactly what it was when I was 17 or 18 years old at A&M, but I feel good, my body feels great.”