Your saying not only should the qb show up earlier and leave later but when the team has a by week and send their players home for a few days that the qb should hole themselves up in a room for those days and study film....
No, not "the" QB. Just
this QB. And I'm not saying he cannot do anything else. But this was two out of the last three weekends he flew back to Texas, which is more than just taking a brief break.
If he was an established, successful veteran QB, or perhaps even a younger QB who had been starting for the whole season but having a great season, I'd feel differently.
But for a young QB who has had struggles both on and off the field, has embarrassed himself and his team, and who has just been given the opportunity to start for the rest of the season, I'd expect to see ass-busting, and
especially a lot of film study. Not just to prepare himself, but to demonstrate his commitment and maturity to his teammates.
That doesnt happen in the NFL. these guys are spending time with their family and or friends.
What is generally true for
most players isn't always true for QB's, what is true for
most QB's isn't always true for young players getting their first chance as the committed starter, and what is true for even those players generally isn't true for a guy with the history of Manziel. He owed it to his teammates to demonstrate an exceptional level of diligence under these circumstances - especially considering how the Browns have sucked.
You can't look at this without considering his past history with alcohol and how it has led him to be perceived.
Justified or not, his teammates are all aware of that, and he owes it to
them to demonstrate that he is going to maximize this opportunity by being the best possible QB he can be.
You would also be condemning Manziel for having charity obligations etc.
No, I wouldn't. That wouldn't implicate the concerns that
justifiably exist regarding g his personal conduct.
The bye week gives players a physical break and a mental break.
Dude has been riding the bench for a good chunk of the season. He should be like a racehorse champing at the bit for a chance to get out, not looking to head into the barn.
Now, whether or not he should be
demoted for that alone is a much closer question, but I'd probably agree not. Still a damned immature thing to do
I've always favored giving him a chance even this season, bit I'm now looking for a new QB even if he starts after this game and plays lights out. I'd just still be too worried about him regressing in terms of behaviors.
He just doesn't get that he's supposed to be on his best behavior, and has to change his image. That's important to instill confidence in his teammates, and to convince potential FA's that he's not still a giant douche.