Manziel spends time away from Browns visiting a school and Progressive Field

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Johnny Manziel spent a day away from football hanging out with little kids and major leaguers.

The Browns’ popular rookie quarterback and Cleveland’s other first-year players attended an event Wednesday at a Berea elementary school, where they kicked off a community service program inside a packed gymnasium that filled with high-pitched screams the moment Manziel entered. He slapped as many hands as he could before taking a seat with his teammates.

After being handed the microphone, Manziel introduced himself to the crowd.

“I’m Johnny Manziel, and I’m from Texas,” he told the kids.

As if everyone didn’t know.

Later, while meeting some players inside Cleveland’s clubhouse before the Indians hosted the Red Sox, there was one youngster who wasn’t sure if he was looking at the man nicknamed Johnny Football.

Manziel had just met center fielder Michael Bourn, when Bourn’s 4-year-old son, Bryson, asked his dad a question.

“Is that him?” he said, pointing at Manziel, who laughed.

Manziel was scheduled to throw out one of the ceremonial first pitches — along with fellow first-round pick Justin Gilbert — but the plan was scrapped after a long rain delay.

Indians manager Terry Francona was looking forward to seeing the former Heisman Trophy winner’s arm.

“I hope he scrambles,” Francona said.

Earlier in the day, Manziel posted a photograph on Twitter of him as a kid wearing an Indians uniform.

“The Indians were always our team growing up, and when I moved to Kerrville in middle school that was our team again,” he said.

Inside Grindstone Elementary School, the 21-year-old Manziel was in his element among more than 800 school kids.

He happily signed autographs and posed for photographs as the children, their teachers and parents clamored to be near the young star. He’s grown accustomed to life as a celebrity, so Manziel wasn’t surprised when his appearance triggered a raucous reaction from the kids on the second-to-last-day of school before summer vacation.

“I don’t think much catches me off guard anymore,” he said of the reception. “It was warm and very welcome and I’m very grateful they gave me an ovation.”

When Manziel walked into the gym, a few young boys sitting up front rubbed their fingers together, mimicking his famous “money” gesture.

Gilbert also spoke to the crowd, drawing laughs when he said Manziel was a tough act to follow.

It’s been that way since the draft for Gilbert, who was selected with the No. 8 overall pick — 14 before Manziel — but has taken a back seat to his well-known teammate.

“It’s a tough job,” Gilbert said of following Manziel. “I’m getting used to it, though.”

Manziel’s arrival in Cleveland has triggered a run on Browns tickets and No. 2 jerseys.

Although he’s still a backup behind Brian Hoyer, Manziel is the unquestioned toast of this football town.