The Truth About: Johnny Manziel

Whether you like the kid or not, it's time to start him.

Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine has bullheadedly started less-than-mediocre quarterback Brian Hoyer for the first four weeks on Cleveland's schedule, earning the ailing franchise a 2-2 record to start the season. Their two wins came over the lackluster Saints by one, and the always-mediocre Titans by two.

All the while, 2-time Heisman candidate, one-time Heisman winner, Johnny Manziel, aka Johnny Football, warms the bench in his Cleveland flatbill and best-selling #2 jersey.

Unacceptable.

Cleveland fans are demanding the electrifying rookie quarterback take the field every Sunday, but he has yet to play a down in the regular season.

On top of the fact that Manziel was one of the best quarterbacks that the SEC, as well as the NCAA, had ever seen in years in 2012 and 2013, the NCAA's most recent Heisman-winning quarterbacks have got some kind of track record in the NFL. Auburn's Cam Newton turned the Panthers from a failing franchise into a playoff team (winning Rookie of the Year) and Baylor's Robert Griffin III carried the Redskins to the playoffs (winning Rookie of the Year also). Sure, there have been busts, such as USC's Matt Leinart and Florida's Tim Tebow, neither of which are on an NFL roster at all today.

But Johnny Football is no bust.

Critics are quick to disagree with this opinion, based only on the personality of the young man. He's the brash, cocky, quintessential bad boy of the game of football, and it rubs most spectators the wrong way. I'll admit, I loved to hate Manziel during his tenure at Texas A&M, being an Auburn fan during the Johnny Football era in AggieLand. But, the more I viewed him as a casual fan than as an Auburn Tiger, the more I realized that he was the most explosive, most controversial, and funnest quarterback in college football to watch, during both of his years as an Aggie.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that the NFL is a different animal than the NCAA. But Johnny Manziel is a different animal than.. well, than any other quarterback in the NFL.

And when I say that, I'm not saying that he's a better quarterback than the likes of Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, etc. But he is a more exciting, more diverse player. He can make any throw he needs to make, extend plays with his feet, and think faster than any active quarterback in the NFL. He was made for the NCAA, he was made for the NFL, and he was made for football, simply because he was made unlike any other. He's wild, he's athletic, he's head-turning, and he is exactly what this failing franchise needs.

Time to start Johnny Football, Mike.

He's The Truth.

- M. Hunter Thomas

The Truth About: The 2014 Heisman Race

Let's go ahead and address the elephant in the room..

Jameis Winston isn't going to repeat as the winner of the Heisman.

On top of stealing soda from Burger King, stealing crab legs from Publix, shooting car windows out with a BB gun, and STILL being under investigation for rape, he managed to.. well, to loudly scream the worst thing someone under investigation for rape could possibly scream.. while standing on a table.. in the FSU Student Union.. I just don't get it.

Anyway, it's needless to say that Winston isn't exactly an upstanding citizen. So, it isn't difficult to see that there's no way that the Heisman is coming anywhere near the quarterback of the reigning champs.. even if they were to repeat.

Five weeks into the season, Alabama's Amari Cooper, has been turning heads as well.. in a more positive light than (In)Famous Jameis. What are the chances of the star wide receiver bringing home Bama's Heisman?

Very slim.

I'm not donning my orange and blue and displaying my utter hate for the Tide (although, most of the time, I am) when I say that I just don't see Cooper winning the Heisman. The last receiver to win the Heisman (Desmond Howard, 1991) was not only an incredible receiver, but the best return man that the NCAA had ever seen. To win the Heisman as a receiver, one would have to shine just as bright on special teams as he does on offense, and Cooper has yet to return a kick or a punt all year. The Biletnikoff? Absolutely. The Heisman? Highly doubtful.

Moving ever-so-slowly towards more realistic candidates, Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah has been not only a statistical favorite, but a fan favorite as well. Anytime I browse the comment section on ESPN.com (never a good idea, by the way) his name arises more often that any other player's in the nation, from both Husker fans and casual fans. So, could he win?

As of right now, I don't see it. He's a fantastic player, and possibly the best tailback in the nation, but.. well.. Nebraska.

I will say this, though.. if the Cornhuskers and their bold, cat-loving coach can bring home a Big 10 championship, then sure.. he's got as good of a chance as anyone in the nation.

But, while we're on the subject of tailbacks, Todd Gurley could win the Heisman whether Georgia wins the SEC championship or not. He carries the Georgia Bulldogs on his back the same way that Tebow carried Florida, Cam carried Auburn, and Jameis carried FSU. If you can stop Gurley, you can stop Georgia. But.. well.. good luck.

Unfortunately for Gurley and his fellow tailbacks, quarterbacks are almost always a lock to win the Heisman with the position evolving into one that takes over the running game as well as the passing game, a la Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel. The Heisman committee holds a special place in their heart for the dual-threat quarterback, and the NCAA has no shortage of them this season. Auburn's Nick Marshall, Mississippi State's Dak Prescott, UCLA's Brett Hundley, BYU's Taysom Hill, and Oregon's Marcus Mariota are only the most well-known of this long list.

Out of all these superstars, only Mariota is a lock to win the Heisman. He was a star last year until his injury, and he has only improved with his return. Oregon is a top 5 team, once again, and he's playing better football than anyone in the country. As of right now, he's the winner on my ballot.

PREDICTIONS (subject to change due to possibility of injury, scandal, or fallout)

FINALISTS

Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon (WINNER)

Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

Kenny Hill, QB, Texas A&M

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska

Taysom Hill, QB, BYU

Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

DARK HORSES

Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn

Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

Nelson Spruce, WR, Colorado

Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State

Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas

Maty Mauk, QB, Missouri

That's The Truth.

- M. Hunter Thomas