Tuesday did not start swimmingly for Johnny Manziel.
Taking snaps with Cleveland's first and second team during organized team activities, the rookie quarterback threw a trio of interceptions to Browns defenders.
After flinging the ball to undrafted safety Robert Nelson in positional drills, Manziel tossed a second pick during a full-squad heave that landed in the arms of veteran Donte Whitner, who took it to the house. Lightning struck again when Johnny Football misfired on a sideline route that cornerback Joe Haden pulled out of the sky for another pick six, per The Plain Dealer.
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The rookie rebounded, though, to unload a 45-yard deep corner route to Anthony Armstrong, a pretty over-the-shoulder touchdown play that showed off Manziel's arm strength. The rookie then looked sharp rolling to his right to peg tight end Jordan Cameron in stride on a 30-yard dart.
It's great to have football back, but let's be honest: These springtime stats are dust in the wind.
Manziel is destined to take his lumps reading NFL defenses. What we're paying attention to is a Kyle Shanahan-run scheme that looks more, every day, like an attack tailored for a mobile quarterback with an ability to make every throw.
Chris Wesseling's softball pantshave never been safer.
Here are 11 more takeaways from Tuesday's OTAs:
- The 49ers now boast a top-tier cast of wideouts, but don't sleep on Seattle. After the Seahawks drafted burner Paul Richardson at No. 45 overall, quarterback Russell Wilson told reporters that "our receivers right now are as fast as it gets." If Percy Harvin can stay healthy alongside Jermaine Kearse, Wilson might have a point.
- Back to San Francisco, where Colin Kaepernick's agents and the 49ers are scheduled to resume contract negotiations this week. As Gregg Rosenthal correctly noted, there's no way Kap goes into battle for a measly $1 million in 2014.
- After eight long years of subhuman quarterback play in Cleveland, veteran linebacker D'Qwell Jackson can't keep his eyes off Andrew Luck:
- DeSean Jackson's departure means new opportunities for the Eagles receivers he left behind. PhillyMag.com's Sheil Kapadia reported Monday that former Wildcat gadget-man Brad Smith is getting plenty of first-team reps in the slot. "The sense here is that he's got a good chance to make the 53-man roster," wrote Kapadia, although our money is on rookie Jordan Matthews to earn more snaps.
- The falloff in Arizona from Daryl Washington to Ernie Sims? Steep.
- We continue to believe in Ladarius Green as a "Making the Leap" candidate set to explode in San Diego. "The sky is still the limit for him," quarterback Philip Rivers said of the third-year tight end who averaged a whopping 22.1 yards per grab last season. At 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, Green projects as a matchup nightmare for AFC West defenses.
- Jacksonville's two rookie wideouts are stuck on the shelf. The Florida Times-Union reported that Marqise Leewore a boot on his right leg at Tuesday's session. The Jaguars also were without first-year pass catcher Allen Robinson, busy nursing a hamstring injury that should keep him sidelined for the next few weeks.
- Get ready, boys and girls: Bucs OC Jeff Tedford plans to drive fantasy owners insane come September. With Doug Martin, Mike James, Bobby Rainey and rookie Charles Sims in the backfield, the play-caller told the Tampa Bay Times: "I think you have to alternate."
- Does Josh Brent have a future in Dallas? Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team remains open to re-signing the retired defensive tackle once he's released from jail, per ESPNDallas.com's Calvin Watkins.
- Bills coach Doug Marrone told reporters that defensive tackle Marcell Dareus won't participate for the rest of OTAs following two arrests in May. "I believe in Marcell," said Marrone, who confirmed that the Pro Bowl talent will return for mandatory minicamp.
- While we're on the subject of Dareus, the NFL is building a potent roster of suspended and likely-to-be-suspended talent: Assuming they're punished, Marcell and Aldon Smith would join a defense that already includes Robert Mathis, Daryl Washington, Brandon Browner and Will Hill. With Ray Rice and Josh Gordon potentially set to join Justin Blackmon on offense, this ill-mannered outfit is one bad-boy quarterback away from a playoff run.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" picks their favorites for Comeback Player of the Year and takes listener calls.
