INDIANAPOLIS -- At age 36 and with three Super Bowl titles on his resume, there isn't much left for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to dream of for his NFL career. But as one of the league's least athletic quarterbacks, he'd apparently like a little of Johnny Football's magic.
Brady has been in touch with former Texas A&M star quarterback Johnny Manziel of late with some pre-draft advice, and Manziel offered a peek into the exchange Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
"He kind of gave me a little joke: If I teach him how to run like I can, he'll do anything in the world for me. So it was pretty funny hearing it from him," Manziel said.
Manziel, of course, is college football's new answer to Doug Flutie and figures to eventually be one of the NFL's most mobile quarterbacks, assuming he earns a starting role. Brady, meanwhile, is the very definition of a pocket passer.
As one of the draft's most high-profile prospects, Manziel is training in San Diego under private coach George Whitfield, who has worked with the likes of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. Whitfield said the interaction was special to Manziel.
"I didn't have anything to do with that connection. I know they got to touch base," Whitfield said. "I think Tom just basically passed on some encouraging words. Johnny, and rightfully so, is a fan, as we all are. Imagine a young baseball player getting a chance to talk to Derek Jeter. That's effectively what Johnny getting a chance to talk to Tom Brady would be like. I think it's smart when you're that young."
Manziel isn't looking to scramble his way into the Super Bowl, however, and said he has worked hard to be more effective from the pocket since his freshman season at TAMU, when he rushed for 1,405 yards on the way to a Heisman Trophy.
Perhaps if Brady can get a little of Manziel's wheels, Manziel can get a little of Brady's savvy for reading defenses.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
