TRANSCRIPT OF JONNY MANZIEL’S PRESS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING THE 1ST DAY OF BROWNS TRAINING

So how did the first day of training camp (7-26-14) go for Johnny Football? Has he learned from his so-called off the field mistakes yet? Read that and more here in the official Browns transcript from his post-practice press conference.

On the first day of training camp:

“It felt like Day 1. It was really good I think. We ran the ball really well; better than we did in OTAs. That’s nice. We’re getting great push. I think our offensive line is doing a really good job. It was really good, got better as the day went on. I think we’re getting better.”

On if there is a different intensity to training camp practice compared to the spring:

“It’s absolutely a different intensity. We had a team meeting yesterday and on the board it shows how many days we have until the first preseason game, second, our first [regular season] game. It’s getting real now. We only have 42 days until the first game and 16 until the first preseason game. It’s getting close. It’s getting real.”

On Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam saying he hopes Manziel can learn from LeBron James and Derek Jeter:

“Those are two of the greatest athletes to play their respective sports in this country. I’m sure they all made their mistakes at 21 years old, 20 years old, when they first came into the league. What I take away from that is you learn from the best and you learn how those guys have carried themselves, which is extremely well on and off the court. I think I absolutely agree with Mr. Haslam that I can learn from guys like that.”

On if he’s comfortable during this time of year playing football:

“Yeah, it’s great. I have a smile on my face pretty much 24-7 being around here. The days get a little long, but that’s what training camp is, and I think everybody knows that. Going into this, they go into it with that mindset. Everybody’s ready to be back. It’s a grind, but we’re lucky enough to come out and, as our job, play football every day and come out here and have a great fan base, people that are cheering for us 24-7. It’s awesome. It’s a great feeling.”

On much different practice is with fans attending:

“It’s definitely different for me having practices open to the fans and stuff, but they’re cheering throughout the entire day. I really did enjoy it. I think it’s great for our fans to get a chance to see up close and personal that we’re working extremely hard to try and change things around here and we’re trying to be successful. Hopefully, we continue to bring this buzz and this excitement to the city.”

On what it’s like seeing his No. 2 jerseys in the stands at practice:

“Personally, I’ve had an incredible fan base that’s followed me and really come out of the woodwork here in Cleveland for me. It’s truly incredible. I’m truly thankful to have those guys, but more than anything, it’s not just my number, my name on the back. It’s Cleveland. It’s the Browns. It’s awesome to have the fan base that we have for this team, not just me. It’s a great turnout today, and I’m sure that won’t stop anytime soon.”

On what his biggest challenge is right now:

“We’re going to be going quick, Day 1 install, Day 2, Day 3. We’re going to keep going on. To really try and lock down these days one day at a time, I really feel like I have a great grasp on that install, go to the next install. Get a grasp of that, and on and on and on until we get our entire playbook in. Then from there, go back over, review, really just feel comfortable with everything. That’s what I have to do. The plays that I feel comfortable with, I know I can go out and execute better. That just takes time. That takes reps. That takes going over it time and time again. Really it just takes time.”

On what lessons he has to learn:

“Here’s the thing that I want to say. The reason that I’m popular or the reason that people follow me and there’s been such a buzz around me is when I went out on Saturdays at Texas A&M, I played with an extreme amount of passion and I played with my heart on my sleeve, but more than anything, I had fun. I have fun playing this game. I have fun going out on this field playing football. It’s what I live for. It’s what I do, same way off the field. Whether I’m playing golf, going out having a night life, whatever it is, I have a lot of fun. That’s what my life is, and luckily for me I’m living out my dream of playing in the NFL having a ton of fun. My dream has come true, and I finally got some time to get some downtime and celebrate that with my family, with my friends. This is the greatest life that I could have ever imagined for me, and I’m loving that. Will I continue to get better being a professional and learn lessons about life? Of course, I’m 21 years old. Age is not an excuse, but I need to mature and I have done some immature things. Moving forward, I’m going to try and mature and get better and handle myself better as a professional. That’s really all I can say about that. My life is incredible. I’m blessed to be in this position. I’m going to have fun each and every day, whether it’s practice, whether it’s training camp, whether it’s during the season going out and playing a game which will be even better, or it’s going out in the offseason or playing golf or hanging out with my family. Life is fun. Enjoy while it’s here.”

On if there are plays in the playbook that suit him better than others and if he thinks that gives him an edge in the quarterback competition:

“There are definitely plays that suit me being able to be mobile and run around a little bit. We have some read stuff that definitely plays into my hand a little bit. I don’t know if that gives me an edge, but I know it’s fun for me being able to get plays that I’m comfortable with and I feel like I’ve ran throughout my career playing football.”

On how he maximizes every play and practice:

“For me, every rep, every little special teams drill that we do, going over to the side working with the quarterbacks, every little thing I have to take extremely serious and really pay attention. Whether I’m in or (Browns QBs) Brian’s (Hoyer) in or Tyler (Thigpen) or Connor (Shaw), whenever someone else is in I have to take a mental rep and continue to not just look at my plays on a scripted sheet, but look at the entirety of it and see what I could potentially get when we’re in the season. Taking mental reps, what I would do here, looking at the entire defense and trying to pick up even when I’m not in is something that I think I could take advantage of.”

On how he and the offense got better at practice:

“I know for me, personally, came out a little slow, just bouncing around a little bit. Then, as we got into some team periods, started moving the ball a little bit the offense started to pick up. It was good to see. We started throwing the ball down the field a little more. I know our first team period was a lot more just rollouts, some runs. As the scripts went on, as our team periods went on and our situations, it just picked up. We started throwing the ball down the field, and people started to liven up, which was nice.”