Opinion

Johnny Manziel won't play for free much longer

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Johnny Football has been a success. With any luck, so will Johnny Football ™.

With any luck, the trademark will eventually turn into revenue-earning T-shirts for Johnny Manziel, and more. With any luck, he will be drafted in the first or second round next year, and his agent will line up endorsements, and he will get his turn to cash in.

Until then, Manziel will continue what he has been doing — creating the shell of a business that will someday earn money.

The shell involves some football, too, and Manziel will return to this Saturday when Texas A&M begins spring practice. Considering how much he improved as last season unfolded, there's reason to think he can be even better with a full season behind him.

But if he's not at a football peak yet, he's at a marketing one. Robert Griffin III was, too, after he won his Heisman.

Texas A&M's quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, poses for photos during a press conference Saturday Dec. 8, 2012 at the New York Marriott Marquis hotel in New York, New York. Texas A&M's quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, poses for photos during a press conference Saturday Dec. 8, 2012 at the New York Marriott Marquis hotel in New York, New York. Image 1 of / 369 Caption Close Johnny Manziel won't play for free much longer 1 / 369 Back to Gallery

Griffin was rewarded by the Redskins and those who wanted him as a spokesman. Adidas just launched an ad campaign with Griffin, and a casual drive through Waco shows the smaller scale. There are billboards with a grinning Griffin selling Subway.

Manziel is closer to the kid putting together the 12-inch sub behind the counter. He's sat with Letterman and had front-row NBA seats, but he's stuck in celebrity purgatory.

Everyone around him makes money. Yet Manziel, the famed guest, the sensation everyone wants to pose with, not only plays for free, he also has to confirm that fact to A&M compliance officials.

It's unfair. After all, Manziel's rise helped Kevin Sumlin get a nice raise, and it did more for Texas A&M. School officials have estimated the university might eventually get what Baylor got because of RG3's Heisman: About $250 million.

Still, none of that has stopped Manziel and his father from creating a corporation, JMAN2 Enterprises, or from using it. This month, he filed papers with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark “Johnny Football” and filed a lawsuit against someone who had been selling T-shirts that used the name.

“Keep Calm and Johnny Football,” the T-shirts are reported to have said. The crime, in this case, is that they couldn't think of something catchier.

The NCAA twist: Manziel can keep the damages if he wins the lawsuit. And at some point, as he travels to awards banquets, this convoluted system has to eat at him.

Little wonder those around Manziel think he'll be gone after next season if everything goes well for him. He's frustrated he can't take advantage of fame that could fade, and he's frustrated by his in-between life, and his decision to take online courses this semester fits in with that.

The option is legitimate. No one should question that. And recently, after pressed by a few tests and papers, Manziel said it was good “to feel like a normal student again.”

But he isn't normal by any measure, and his online work reflects that. Manziel has little investment in the school, and even those Aggies who defend his choice probably see this as a sign he is only doing what is necessary before he goes pro.

If he doesn't embrace the college experience, after all, then what's to think he would ever put off the NFL?

Those who are closer to him have the same impression. Manziel doesn't like campus life as much as he likes life.

So he'll work to get better this spring. He will go offline next week and actually come to campus for practice. And if he can do what he did last season, wowing the crowd and NFL scouts, he will be ready to capitalize.

Johnny Football ™ will, too. JMAN2 Enterprises will make sure of that.

bharvey@express-news.net