T.J. Ward was drafted 38th overall by the Browns in the 2010 NFL draft and spent four seasons with Cleveland before signing with the Broncos as a free agent in 2014.
So it should only be expected that the two-time Pro Bowl safety is still well aware of what goes on behind the scenes with the Browns.
In recent months, numerous reports have circulated regarding Johnny Manziel, specially the off-the-field activities of the Browns’ second-year quarterback and whether the team has lost hope in him.
Manziel after the Super Bowl, a stay that was expected to last “at least a few weeks.” But last week, ESPN’s that the Browns have are unsure of what to do with Manziel:
“I think about 90 percent that they have moved on in their own minds except that they really don’t know who they’re going to get when Johnny leaves rehab, which has been an extended stay — a two-month stay,” Mortensen said. “He should be getting out sometime in the first week of April if they’re satisfied that he’s ready to go out and get into society and that whatever deep-rooted problems that he had has been addressed.
“The bottom line is that Johnny Manziel’s future with the Browns has been in question. When they were putting together half of a new offensive staff, Manziel’s name barely even came up in conversation.”
On Tuesday, while a guest on , Ward was asked about Manziel and his former team. Ward’s response:
“I still keep in contact with a lot of people out in Cleveland and they give me a little back story about what’s going on sometimes,” he said. “They just really don’t know if he’s the man or not, basically, and they’re trying to get him to mature up and be that guy, but can he?
“This is a quarterback league. You’re starting to see that shift a little bit to running the ball, with the success the Seahawks have had, the Cowboys. The running backs are getting a little bit more recognition, but it’s still a quarterback league. So if you don’t have that quarterback, if you don’t have that man at the helm — even if he’s not out there Peyton Manning it, doing all of this (directing motions with his hands) changing everything around, you still have the Russell Wilsons that are going to make plays when they need to be made and control the game.
“So, regardless of what’s going on, the quarterback is going to run everything. If you don’t have that guy, then you’re dead in the water.”
