Ellington

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One of the more interesting stories this week is that http://www.espn.com/blog/new-orleans-saints/post/_/id/25857/report-sean-payton-johnny-manziel-met-during-super-bowl-week">New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton met with former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel during Super Bowl week.

There are few examples of a player destroying their career the way Manziel has. NFL teams are known to put up with a lot of crap from players with loads of talent. Heck, any sports-related field is willing to put up with a ton from stars because they are stars, including the MLB, NBA and even the WWE. Just http://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/top-10-backstage-horror-stories-about-shawn-michaels/">check out the stuff that wrestler Shawn Michaels pulled in his younger years, but “The Showstopper” was one of the greatest talents ever in the ring.

The general consensus has been that it is all right to party like a rock star on Saturday if you can deliver the goods on Sunday. Famed http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325839/article/joe-namath-how-can-any-team-pass-on-johnny-manziel">New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath partied with the best of them but still could get it done when the game started. So could http://www.si.com/vault/1994/04/18/130871/time-in-a-bottle-after-42-years-of-alcohol-abuse-a-legendary-ballplayer-describes-his-life-of-self-destructive-behavior-and-hopes-his-recovery-will-finally-make-him-a-true-role-model">New York Yankees great Mickey Mantle. Manziel, on the other hand, couldn’t pull off the feat when the Cleveland Browns drafted him in 2014.

It worked for the quarterback when he was at Texas A&M University and made the news for his bad behavior. The same wild and crazy lifestyle didn’t go over well in the NFL, where players are supposed to be prepared on game day.

Since the Browns drafted in the first round with the 22nd overall pick, the former http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/list/johnny-manziels-antics-incidents-nfl-career-browns/15v4mnf95yndc1asv20mdixa6s">Heisman Trophy winner seemed to be in scandal after scandal. On the field, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/06/johnny-manziel-s-fall-from-grace.html">Manziel’s talent couldn’t eclipse the dumpster fire that he was off the field.

His antics eventually got old, and the Browns cut him in March 2016. No team wanted him during the offseason, and not many teams have shown interest in the quarterback.

If any coach could get a player to straighten up and live up to the talent that he possesses, it would be Payton. Payton and his current quarterback, Drew Brees, wouldn’t let Manziel act the way that he did with the Browns.

New Orleans, as a city, would be the big risk for signing Manziel. Few cities in America have a reputation for being a place to have a good time like The Big Easy. The temptation for Manziel would be great, and that is where Payton and Brees would have to keep him in check.

It doesn’t seem likely that New Orleans will sign Manziel, but Brees is 38 years old and in the final year of his contract. Payton doesn’t hurt anything by kicking the tires on a quarterback who could be really talented if he fixed his work ethic and personal life.

Remember Michaels mentioned above. Most of the superstars in the WWE disliked him when his back issues forced him to to leave the company. He later returned with the company after a four-and-half-year absence as a better person, according to many accounts. http://www.sportingnews.com/wwe/news/shawn-michaels-on-new-book-wrestling-for-my-life-returning-to-the-ring-and-his-fashion-style/f4e8kj8ivuk21llz3wh140qwh">Michaels found religion and turned his life around while he was away from wrestling. His in-ring work didn’t suffer one bit, as he put on great match after great match.

Manziel doesn’t have to find religion, but he needs to find something to help him turn his life around. The former NFL player will have to change and change quickly, before he becomes another draft bust.