Jim Brown 'encouraged' by Manziel's message but figures it's boom or bust

Jarrett Bell | USA TODAY Sports

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HOLLYWOOD HILLS, Calif. — Jim Brown sees Johnny Manziel and thinks extremes.

"I believe he's going to be a star or he's going to be a bust," Brown told USA TODAY Sports of the second-year Cleveland Browns quarterback. "There's no in-between. I like Johnny. He creates action. But there's no middle ground on Johnny. He's going to be that guy, or he's probably going to be out of there. I like it that way, because they need dynamics at quarterback."

Browns coach Mike Pettine has maintained that Manziel — despite an uninspiring rookie season and an offseason stint in an alcohol treatment center — is in the running to challenge recently acquired veteran Josh McCown for the starting job.

While it seems unlikely that the Browns — who have praised Manziel's progress during the offseason — would part ways with the green quarterback this year if he doesn't win the job, Brown's point is that he doesn't see a long developmental process as the ticket for the former Heisman Trophy winner.

In one sense, Manziel could use extensive time as a backup or an abundance of trial-by-fire reps to grow. In reality, a win-fast mentality often drives decisions in the NFL.

Why boom-or-bust on Johnny Football?

"That's the nature of his personality," Brown said. "That's the history that he brought forth."

This theme can apply to the Manziel persona off-the-field. He also brought a history of a wild lifestyle.

The real game-changer, Brown senses, might have come with the more than 10 weeks earlier this year that Manziel spent in rehab, addressing issues with alcohol that were undoubtedly related to some of the off-the-field incidents the quarterback encountered.

Brown, arguably the greatest player in NFL history, reconnected with his old franchise after Jimmy Haslam purchased the team and attended OTA sessions in June. He doesn't profess to know Manziel deeply but mentioned having a few short exchanges with the quarterback and senses a positive vibe. He also realizes the added layer of scrutiny due to Manziel's high profile.

"I'm encouraged, because Johnny is addressing his situation, and that's speaking to the world," Brown said. "That message is encouraging. He's going to give himself the best chance to succeed. Now if he were still in denial, we'd have a different conversation. If he didn't go to rehab, this would be totally different."

Challenges flowing from rehab resonate with Brown through his experiences. With his Amer-I-Can Foundation, Brown has spent years working with people trying to rebound from many troubled circumstances, including drug and alcohol abuse. You'd think that he's the perfect person that Manziel could tap for advice.

"I learned a long time ago that advice is a quick trip to nowhere," Brown said. "It's the commitment that only you can make in yourself, the responsibility to assume control of yourself. What I would have said to Johnny, or would have hoped he'd do, he's doing.

"So I'd say to him, 'Your commitment to allow the world to know you want to work to change your life, I encourage and support you.' It would be that simple. I wouldn't try to impart any great wisdom on him, because it's a day-to-day process that he's got to live with."

If Manziel can succeed with his personal challenge, it could go far in determining which end of Brown's envisioned boom-or-bust extreme he will reflect as a quarterback.

In more ways than one, there's no middle ground.