Manziel meets media over offseason antics

Associated Press

HOOVER, ALA.

Johnny Manziel strode into Southeastern Conference Media Days and was swarmed by hundreds of reporters and dozens of television cameras.

He shook some hands and the cameras flashed as he settled into his seat, the star of the SEC’s latest must-see TV show.

If the Texas A&M quarterback was troubled by all the attention, he didn’t show it.

Dressed in a dark blue suit, checkered shirt and striped tie, Manziel answered every question thrown his way during the 30-minute Q&A, some were even about football.

He said he largely enjoys the spotlight that comes with winning the Heisman Trophy — even if it sometimes includes unsavory headlines.

“This is just another day,” Johnny Football said with a grin.

The 20-year-old sophomore and face of college football spent most of his three-hour stay at the Wynfrey Hotel, bouncing from one interview session to another. He mostly talked about an eventful offseason that has frequently made him a trending topic.

“I don’t feel like I’ve done anything that’s catastrophic,” Manziel said. “Of course, I’ve made my mistakes.

“It’s time to grow up.”

The most recent misstep came last weekend at the Manning Passing Academy. Manziel was one of many college quarterback counselors at the camp for high school prospects run by Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning in Louisiana, but he left before it was over.

He says he missed activities because he “overslept,” and his absence had nothing to do with being out the night before.

“I was not asked to leave. It was a mutual decision,” Manziel said.

He said that while there were social events every night with the Mannings, he did not miss his meetings because of too much partying.

“The speculation of me being too hung over and that’s the reason I missed the meetings is absolutely incorrect,” he said.

The early exit from the Manning camp is just part of Manziel’s offseason in the public eye.

• He pleaded guilty on Monday to a misdemeanor of not identifying himself to a police officer following a 2012 altercation at a bar near campus in College Station.

• He sent out an update on Twitter in June saying that he “can’t wait to leave” College Station, before quickly deleting the updated. He later apologized.

• He also created a minor stir in February when he said he took most of his classes online and didn’t go on campus very much.

None of the transgressions were huge, but they combined to keep Johnny Football in the news and raise questions about his character.