Ben Tate

Cleveland Browns running back Ben Tate, right, takes a handoff from quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) during a recent practice.

(Associated Press)

BEREA, Ohio – Ben Tate understands the public's fascination with Johnny Manziel, but he isn't among those reading every story or downloading each TMZ video featuring the rookie quarterback.

The Browns halfback believes the Manziel hype needs to be dialed back -- at least until he plays his first NFL game.

"It's not really sympathy, it's just as a player I know I would get tired if people were monitoring if I picked my nose, if I spit to the left or right," Tate said Tuesday. "It's annoying. He's a human being. He's a great football player. I get why he gets the constant media attention. I just think he wants to come in here and do his job and try to win the starting quarterback position."

Tate was asked about comments he made over the weekend in Los Angeles regarding Manziel in which he said:

"He had success early in his career when he was at (Texas) A&M. He won the Heisman or whatever, but there are lots of people that have won the Heisman. I mean, Mark Ingram won the Heisman, and I don't see everyone all excited when he got to the league."

Using his Twitter account, Tate wanted fans to know he wasn't criticizing Manziel with that remark.

Manziel's trip to Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend made national news and included TMZ videos and pictures of him at a club and pool party. Browns coaches and teammates defended their quarterback's Vegas getaway.

TMZ published another video Saturday of Manziel exiting a club in Los Angeles, where he attended the NFL Players Association Rookie Premiere.

"Y'all (the media) just hype everything up and make everything more extreme than it is," Tate said. "I guess that's your job. That's what you're standing right here for."

Is the rookie receiving too much publicity too soon?

"I feel like it," Tate said. "He hasn't played a down in the National Football League yet. That's on y'all to figure out."

Someone asked Tate if Manziel's long pass to Jordan Cameron during Tuesday's practice, "caught his eye."

"Did it catch yours?" he replied. "It's a good football play. It's not anything I haven't seen before."

Tate was asked what the "story" will be Tuesday night after he throws out the first pitch at the Indians game.

"It might be the Indians trying to sign me," he said laughing. "I'm just trying to get it over the plate and not in the dirt."

Tate gave away 44 tickets to Tuesday night's game through his Twitter account. Here is a sampling of those Tweets: