WASHINGTON - LeBron James' marketing agency will no longer be working with maligned Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, James' business manager told cleveland.com.

James' company is shifting its focus away from endorsements and Manziel's football career may be at a crossroads as he continues to deal with personal issues.

"We've decided to end our formal business relationship with Johnny," said Maverick Carter, James' long-time friend and business partner who runs LRMR, the agency which until now had represented Manziel in endorsement deals.

"I will continue to support and advise him as a friend," Carter said. "However, because Johnny needs to focus on personal growth, the next phase of his career and because LRMR continues to expand beyond marketing, we made the mutual decision that it was best to terminate our business relationship."

A spokeswoman for Manziel did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Fenway Sports Management, which has had a contract with LRMR to assist in James' marketing deals since 2011, is parting ways with Manziel as well.

Sources told cleveland.com last week and again Wednesday morning that LRMR was evolving, shifting toward more of a focus on managing James' broader business deals instead of simply his endorsements, and that at some point the natural progression of LRMR's plans would likely mean a split with Manziel.

But Manziel's most recent, rumored escapade, a reported whirlwind trip to Las Vegas over the weekend before the Browns' season was over, apparently moved up the timing.

Manziel, who was in the NFL's concussion protocol, missed a mandatory team meeting Sunday and was not at the stadium for the Browns' season finale against Pittsburgh. He was spotted partying in Las Vegas Saturday night, where he reportedly wore a blond wig, fake mustache, and glasses, and used the alias "Billy."

On Wednesday, James said he was concerned for Manziel "individually."

"I don't know all the details on it, I really kind of even haven't been all up on it, but I've heard a little bit of it and it's just a distraction for not only himself but for everyone that's around him, including family, people that represent him, the people around him," James said. He'll figure it out at some point, we all hope."

James, Carter, Randy Mims, and Rich Paul (now James' agent) started LRMR about 10 years ago as a way to manage all of the sponsorship offers placed in front of James.

As James' earning power and business interests have erupted over the past 18 months, LRMR's newer, sharper focus is to manage James' expanded equity stake in Blaze Pizza; Uninterrupted, an on-line publishing platform for athletes; SpringHill Entertainment, James' media production company that inked a production agreement with Warner Bros.; and his lifetime endorsement partnership with Nike.

Manziel signed with LRMR out of Texas A&M in 2014 to represent him in marketing deals. He signed endorsement agreements with MusclePharm, Nike, and Snickers and filmed commercials for McDonald's and Nissan. James has mostly supported Manziel in public and was in his corner for much of 2014 during a season-long quarterback controversy on the Browns with Brian Hoyer.

Manziel was a guest of James and Carter for the Cavs' playoff opener last season after a 10-week stay in a Pennsylvania rehabilitation and treatment facility.

James said then, in April, that Manziel was "part of the family."

As an aside, Manziel reportedly wants to leave the Browns and play for James' favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys.