DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Johnny Manziel pulled over during domestic argument, admits to drinking

I live in the west suburbs of Cleveland not that far from Avon, and I was sobriety checked once after having one beer, two blocks from my house. I know if you've had one beer it smells like you had 8, but I was pulled over for turning on my headlights as I pulled out of a Mr Hero near our house. The officer felt I should have performed that operation sooner, but it had been a long day at work and I was tired. Nevertheless, there I was standing on one leg with my arms stretched out, on a main street near my home - in front of neighbors or possibly even my mother or sisters, for all I knew. But there's our Johnny with his hammered girlfriend, after reports of his very reckless driving, his girlfriend's claim that he had hit her, and his own admission that he had had "two" drinks earlier (while his GF was apparently pounding Crown-and-Cokes), and this particular policeman decides that this guy was most likely safe to drive. Unbelievable. (As far as smelling alcohol on him, anybody ever heard what they say about vodka ... kisses but never tells ... no telltale odor.) I think that if this officer acted on his own, he should be disciplined for not sobriety checking Manziel. But my guess is that he was told not to - a lot of Browns' players and staff live in or near this development in Avon - the fix was in. That's my (admittedly) cynical take on this incident.

The shame of it all is that she would take a great tasting whiskey like Crown and mix it with Coke. Oh the HORROR of it all!

True. But I do understand the things that achieve that winning culture. With teams like the Patriots to achieve a winning culture they constantly say "we'll do what's best for the team moving forward". I've never ever heard the Brown's FO or coaching staff say that.

It does seem odd that he wasn't checked, but, by the same token, we don't definitely know the time line from JM drinking 2 beers until the cops showed up. Had he drank 2 or 3 hours earlier, no problem. Even an hour earlier, probably no problem.

The girlfriend wasn't driving, so no need to even check her for sobriety from a "driving" stand point.

True, but when was the last time you heard of a cop taking someone at their word as far as how many, how recently, etc. The rule of thumb I've always heard was that they typically double whatever the individual tells them, regarding "how many". Plus, it would be difficult to believe that JM was simply sitting there nursing his two beers (or whatever) while his GF over-indulged. (Or maybe he brought his playbook along to study? I know, low blow, sorry.)

...been a known situation before and after rehab. As long as Papa Enabler Manziel shares the legal team with JH, expect more of the same for a while at least.

Most of what I have read on here is a whole bunch of opinion, sprinkled with conjecture and a heap of bull hockey. If the NFL didn't completely blow the Ray Rice issue this wouldn't even be investigated, but because of that they are hypersensitive anytime it comes to a player and domestic problems they have no choice. And that Grossi being the poster child of journalistic excellence is priceless, what a hack. You should hang your hat on someone else.

This is a nothing issue, but some look for anything to bolster their negative opinion of JM, the front office and the owner. I don't know if he will ever be a real starter in the NFL but neither do any of you, unless you have traveled through time in a modified DeLorean.

seems like every DUI on cops starts out with the guy saying he had 2 with dinner...

I've had a few guys tell me the truth, usually while they're crawling across the pavement towards the cruiser. Let's face it, nobody wants to go to jail so of course they're going to lie. In this case I suspect Manziel was sober enough to pass the cursory inspection of the Deputy and they were more concerned with the Domestic Violence part. And since the girlfriend was totally blotto drunk her word didn't carry as much weight as his. He got lucky. The Ohio State Highway Patrol would have burned his fun house down because they hate everybody.

Just as long as this business doesn't interfere with the Team and whatever smoking and charred remains of a season we have left I could care less. Deal with it in the off-season.

That's a good take.

I am fed up with it. Make an example!

Cut JFF's girlfriend, for polluting good Crown if nothing else.

Dear Johnny Manziel, what do you plan to do with your life? -- Terry Pluto

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dear Johnny Manziel:

There has been so much discussion about what the Browns should have done after your domestic dispute in Avon. And what the Avon police should have done, starting with a sobriety test. The NFL may do something as they try to determine what happened between you and your girlfriend.

But the most important question is this: What will you do about it?

No one -- not the police, the league or the Browns -- can make Johnny be good. Only you can do that.

After 11 weeks in a rehabilitation center for some sort of addiction problem that have never been made public, you were out drinking?

You told police it was only "two drinks."

Your high school coach is Julius Scott. He lived with you for a few months after you left the rehabilitation center. He went home. He can't live your life for you. Scott told USA Today: "If you asked me if I thought drinking was a good idea, I'd say absolutely not. You'd have to have your head examined if you said, 'It's OK to go have a couple.'"

THE REAL PROBLEM

Johnny, you can't drink ... period. Those days are over. Nor should you hang around with people who like to drink. The police report and a 911 call made it clear that the woman in your car had too much to drink, although she's not to blame.

It was your decision to hang out with a woman dating back to your old days on the party circuit. It was your decision to go out and have some drinks. It's your decision if you want to blame her for what happened.

Or will you be a man and take responsibility for your poor decisions?

It's more than simply saying, "I'm not going to drink." It's staying away from places and people where drinking is the normal activity.

IT WAS OK FOR A WHILE

Scott also told USA Today that you "kept sobriety alive and well when I was there."

Johnny, I don't know you. I've never interviewed you 1-on-1. But having done weekly jail ministry since 2000 where the majority of men are addicted to something (often more than one substance), it's easy to see that you are asking for more heartbreak, more embarrassment, more problems.

Some men admit that they are hooked on the action. They like the bar scene, the party scene, the dancing on the edge of chaos and darkness.

I keep thinking about how you were jetting from one end of the country to the other to party with celebrities and buddies after being drafted in 2014. Nearly every weekend, you were somewhere with a drink in your hand and looking more than a little drunk in the pictures that kept surfacing on the internet.

Is that part of your problem? Is simply doing your job, hanging out with teammates, sticking with your aftercare program too boring?

Too often, men have told me that they were sober for months, even a few years -- then they'd fall down. They'd lie to themselves by viewing a few drinks as a reward for good behavior. And they'd perhaps find they could have a few drinks and not get drunk.

But soon, a few drinks is not enough. And it's back in the pit, only it's deeper and harder to crawl out the next time.

I just wish the men that I know in jail had 10 percent of the help available to them that you can access being an NFL player. But what are you doing with it?

TIME TO GET REAL

Johnny, after the incident you tweeted: "It was embarrassing, but not serious." You better get very serious about this, right now.

I'm not sure what happened with your girlfriend in the car, but it was ugly enough to cause two people to call 911 and report it. But you want everyone to believe that it wasn't serious.

The scary thing is that you may believe none of this is a big deal. To repeat what your former coach said, "You'd have to have your head examined if you said, 'It's OK to go have a couple.'"

You're not Johnny Football anymore. You're not even a starter in the NFL. If the Browns decided to trade you, they'd be lucky to get a low draft pick in return.

You're a 22-year-old who has been spoiled by life as a college football star in Texas and doesn't realize how your future and personal life depends on your decisions. People won't always be there to help, to give you the benefit of the doubt.

You've let a lot of people down, starting with yourself. And you have only yourself to blame.

Until you admit that, nothing will change.

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2015/10/dear_johnny_manziel_what_do_yo.html#incart_river

"I'm not sure what happened with your girlfriend in the car..."

Dear Terry Pluto,

Then why are you writing an article telling someone how to live their life based on what happened in the car? Perhaps, some journalistic research should be done to find out what happened in the car before writing an article that critical of somebody.

Typical North East Ohio Journalism ( or what pass's for it ) ..

Amen to this x10.

Regardless of how you or I feel about him as a football player (I can't really say that with a straight face) - This is a fantastic article about Johnny the person. Nobody wants to see another human being suffer. Johnny needs to finally grow up and get his life right.

I was unfortunate to take one of the weekend alcohol classes due to a DUI and one of the things that you learn is that on average alcohol leaves your body at .01 percent an hour. The legal limit is .08 and depending on your body weight 1 beer can put you over the limit or 1 glass of wine. If you have two you are definitely over so if he was at .12 and it takes an hour for each .01 to leave your body he would have to wait 5 hours before he could drive legally under state law. Anyone out there that thinks a couple of beers two hours ago and your ok is dead wrong, you might be able to drive perfectly fine but under state law you are driving intoxicated.

Bottom line is if it was me or you that said yeah I had 2 beers earlier and my girlfriend is trashed we would have gotten tested for BAC.

Damn skippy!

That's odd. I had the unfortunate opportunity to attend a weekend like you. Mine was about 21 years ago.

We were told that your body (avg. size) processes, or eliminates a "drink" each hour. We were also told that a "drink" increases your BAC by .02. So, an hour after drinking 1 drink, you're back to a bac of 0.

Now, we all need to keep in mind that a "drink" - 1 beer, 1 glass of wine, 1 shot of alcohol - can consist of different amounts of alcohol.

Ex: My wife drinks Miller 64 if she drinks. I think that is 2.4% alcohol by volume. I drink the "standard" lite beers - say Coors Light - and that is 4.2% alcohol by volume.

Some beers are much higher in ABV.

Wine - some are 6% on up to.....? 20%?

Liquor - some is 20%, some are 40, even 60%.

So, WHAT you drink matters, obviously, but in more ways than one.

I just can't see a person having 2 "normal" beers (there's that issue again - what's a normal beer, right) and failing a breathalyzer.



http://science.howstuffworks.com/alcohol4.htm

I was just gonna post that article. I didn't think the actual article was as good as the headline though.

Johnny Alcoholic wants to have his cake (play in the NFL) and eat it to (party), but he's in the NFL, on a national stage and a total screw-up when he drinks. We all know what a wreck he was last year. I hope he can quit using, but I don't know anymore. I've lost my trust in him.

Addiction is horrible. If anyone knows, it's me.

That would take into account that JFF actually reads what Pluto writes.

I find the odds of that highly suspect.

Excellent point.

I like Pluto, but I can't believe he wrote that piece of crap article.

Dear Johnny........

Seriously? How freaking amateurish is that? What grown reporter resorts to such a childish prose?

Dear Terry,

Please grow up and take a journalism class. Writing letters to an individual in a publication that will be viewed nationally is lazy, manipulative, amateurish, and not fooling anyone who has a brain.

I like you, Terry. I would hate for you to lose your job due to incompetence, laziness, and for blatant transparency. Please take another journalism class to hone your skills before you find yourself out of a job.

I have worked with people who have been in the field for too long. They lose their edge. They rest on their laurels. They don't respect the intelligence of their audience. They submit pieces that are hastily written at the last moment because they have become complacent.

Seriously Terry, perhaps you should take some time off. Rekindle the proverbial fires. Return w/a vengeance and write real articles again. You know, the type of articles and books you wrote when you were good. I absolutely loved your stuff about Bad Marvin Barnes. Man, that was classic Pluto! What happened to that guy, Terry?

Is that the same guy who writes a BS letter that he never sends to the guy he is addressing and then uses that letter to fool his readership? Sorry Terry, I just lost a lot of respect for you due to your amateurish piece of fiction.

So Terry, what are you going to do? Are you going to become a real journalist again or are you going to continue to try and trick your readership.

Whatever you decide, please know that I care about you and have your best interests at heart.

Sincerely,

John Q. Public

Somebody needs a new ball boy they'd be willing to trade a pick for? LOL

Your dead on Arch. I have been told the same thing from Cops who I use to drink with. Years ago they also use to try to show the effects of drinking and driving by having you drive around the course while drinking. I still aced the course when I was more than 2 times the legal limit (which was .10 back then) and for us old guys we remember driving when the legal limit was .15

I have not had a dui before but I have carried a portable breathalyzer with me for years. If I blow a .08 or higher I won't get behind the wheel. I wait till it drops, and the thing is always dead on (Unless I have not eaten all day) Then it can be off just a hair giving me reading of .09 instead of .08 if I had a empty stomach and drank 8 beers in 4 hours.

Red wine is typically 12.5 to 14.5%...

The part you bolded is straight Truth.
Everything after that is just good, old fashioned, truth-hurts advice - that Johnny will never see or read.

Arch and GM, I could be wrong it has been 13 years ago since I had to take the class and maybe they tell you that to scare you so that you wait longer? That is what I remembered but I could be wrong that it was .01 for each hour. Either way I still say if that was you or I we would have had a breathalyzer or at least we would have had to touch our nose, stand on one leg, say our ABCs, etc.

Yeah, my "retreat" was 21 years ago.

And when I got my dui, I did all the tests, etc, and the cop actually told me "you passed all those, but you did admit to drinking earlier, so I'm going to take you in for a breathalyzer." (he didn't ask me to recite the alphabet backwards though. That's a sham tool also. No one can recite the alphabet backwards)

Did you know that the tests they do (aside from the light in the eyes/follow the light) are designed for no other reason than to get you on video failing the test?

he is lucky to have survived that. he isnt joe thomas that go hunting wild boar with a knife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He was at Caron Treatment Center. They treat drug and alcohol addiction. Here's their fb page: Caron

I don't know Tab.

I did read that even if you volunteer to go to rehab, the NFL "can" add you to the substance abuse policy. That doesn't really sound fair to me, but I did read they have that option. If so, it could be exactly like Gordon having a couple of drinks on that airplane.

I never really believed that JFF went to rehab for drinking in the first place, but that's strictly my opinion.

While I don't believe any such incident is a positive, I certainly believe this one is being blown out of proportion.

eo and everyone else can stick there head in the sand all they want to. i know exactly why he was there.

And anyone who has ever gotten and stayed clean/sober knows that it is all the same thing - it doesn't matter if it's coke, meth, beer, whiskey, wine, valium, uppers, downers, or pain meds.

The effect on the addict/alcoholics mind is the same, and the only way you stay clean/sober is you stop ALL of them. Yes, that means that if you go in for cocaine, you give up drinking.

ftfy

When's the last time you called 911 because someone was stopped on the side of the road? It just doesn't compute. He was driving recklessly and was doing something such that people called the EMERGENCY police number. Unless she was beating him up, which given his stature may be the case...?

yea. oops. but any way you look at it johnny is not going to go after 2 bears with a drink in his hand......

Not true, I can recite it rather well. I won many a drink in bar bet on that one. Rather ironic eh?