Chapin: Why am I missing Manziel mania?

His jersey is the best-selling among NFL players and he hasn’t played a down — not even in a preseason game. He hasn’t even taken a snap yet in a training camp practice (rookies were to report today, veterans on Friday).

What is it about Johnny Manziel that has everyone going nuts? I know he is an outstanding quarterback prospect, had great numbers in college and showed great poise and creativity to pull out some big wins, notably over Alabama in his redshirt freshman season.

But as a longtime Browns fan I don’t care how many Twitter followers he has and I don’t care if he makes the team relevant, I just want someone out there who can win games. Personally, I think Manziel is more media creation than winning NFL quarterback, but we shall see.

Manziel was ranked 14th in the nation on Rivals.com’s list of dual-threat quarterbacks in 2011 and was rated a three-star prospect. Three other Texas high school quarterbacks were ahead of him on the list as were Braxton Miller (No. 1), Teddy Bridgewater (6) and Marcus Mariota (12).

I am sure Texas A&M fans knew who he was as he labored — anonymously for the most part — on the Aggies’ scout team while redshirting in 2011. He won the starting position for 2012 but until the 29-24 win over No. 1 Alabama on Nov. 10, only diehard college football fans knew who he was.

Not taking anything away from that victory but in my opinion it kicked off a Heisman Trophy campaign, spearheaded by the national sports media (read ESPN). Yes, he had great numbers but I thought at the time that his stature as Heisman Trophy winner was more because of media coverage than what he did on the field. He was and continues to be, for the most part, a media creation.

Manziel is well-spoken, is a great interview and clearly loves the attention. National media types flock to celebrities — errr, athletes — like that (at times it seems most ESPN on-air personalities would rather be covering pop culture than sports). They got their chance in the offseason as Manziel morphed from a sports figure into a celebrity.

He was in the news for a variety of reasons — mostly negative — including a mini-scandal in which he was reported to have profited from autographing souvenir items and a number of sightings — usually with an attractive young woman nearby — in drinking establishments while he was still underage.

The 24/7 coverage of Manziel continued during his sophomore season at Texas A&M and fueled the negative feelings I had about the guy. He came off as that smart-aleck little rich kid who always managed to get out of trouble even though everyone knew he was up to something. The media continued to fawn over him and then, once he announced he was leaving school for the NFL Draft, the attention went into overdrive.

The debate raged regarding his size, ability to avoid injury, arm strength, leadership abilities, etc. The comparisons ranged from a cockier version of Colt McCoy to a stronger, faster version of Pro Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton. Everyone had an opinion on his prospects in the NFL.

Once the Browns drafted him — a move you might guess I was not in favor of — I accepted that fact and decided to reserve judgment until I see him on the playing field. This summer the national media has continued its Manziel onslaught but I have managed to ignore most of that idiocy, though I did hear something about a swan and Justin Bieber. (Disclosure: I have never heard Justin Bieber sing anything and don’t plan to in the future)

Anyway, the time has come for Manziel to put up and either his supporters or detractors to shut up. I like what I saw of Brian Hoyer last year so if Manziel can’t play, it won’t be as big a disaster for the Browns as one might think.

If he can play I can continue to ignore the other stuff and root for him on the field. And maybe I will get my own Manziel jersey.

Write Vindicator sportswriter Doug Chapin at dchapin@vindy.com.