Johnny Manziel

Johnny Manziel has drawn criticism from another former player, this time Merril Hoge.

(AP)

BEREA, Ohio -- Former Steelers running back Merril Hoge lit into Johnny Manziel Wednesday morning, following former Bengals quarterback

is no match for the Steelers right now.

"If you're the Steelers' defense, you want No. 2 (Manziel) to walk out on that field," Hoge, the ESPN analyst, told Pittsburgh radio station WDVE-FM Wednesday morning. "You want him on that field. He has no business being on the field right now."

Hoge, who also ripped former Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow when he was in vogue, doesn't view Manziel as a legitimate NFL quarterback. "This is the one thing that probably burns me more about our league, the NFL, than anything is when a player like Johnny Manziel is drafted based on hype and excitement, not a true football skill. He really had no business being drafted in the first round.''

Hoge took exception to Manziel texting quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains during the draft and declaring "we'll wreck this league.''

"That didn't just burn players; it infuriates coaches," Hoge said. "It told you, too, that he's a juvenile punk. He was like that, and he's still like that.''

He predicted a hasty exit for Manziel from the NFL, similar to that of Tebow.

"This will be the saddest, quickest ending we have seen in quite some time," Hoge said. "It'll be like a Tim Tebow (situation)."

Manziel was aware of Hoge's remarks, but unfazed.

"Stuff pops up on my phone and I happened to see something," Manziel said Wednesday. "He's been in the opposite corner of me for a while now, so all I can really do is go out and try to prove him wrong. He's entitled to every bit of his opinion."

Hoge, who criticized Manziel's arm after watching some preseason tape, doesn't think the former Texas A&M product will be successful in the NFL.

"When I was doing the draft and I was going through and studying him, I actually got done and it was the first time other than Tim Tebow came out and I was like, 'God, there is nothing — nothing that he does — that transitions to the National Football League.'

"There's not one skillset that he had that you're like, 'Gosh, he's a first-rounder.' Really, nothing."

Browns coach Mike Pettine discounted Hoge's opinion.

"Where did he play?'' Pettine said. "I just know that in the age that we're in of sensationalism, a lot of times people that want to be heard have to make bold statements in order to bring attention to themselves. I think that's something that's a regular occurrence in this league."

Added Hoge, "If you're the Steelers, you want him on the field. You really do. (Brian) Hoyer, listen, he didn't shine and he's nothing special, but he's a lot more dangerous than Johnny Manziel."