I watched in awe when I saw Cleveland Browns Quarterback Johnny Manziel poke that middle finger up; and I thought, “What kind of an image is this great player portraying to children and teens…in my opinion, “there’s “no” excuse for this?” I hope it was a slip-up on his part because he is a hero among many young children.
Would anyone want to see their young son/daughter portraying this type of image in a school activity? Player’s young children are easily influenced by their sports heroes and they will imitate them because they feel it is okay to do it because their hero did it. “Heroes” must be aware of their actions because young eyes copy them.
I’ve been waiting to read news reports about the incident to see if the NFL was going to fine the Browns rookie quarterback and it was reported today by the Associated Press that Manziel was fined $12,000 for flipping his middle finger at Washington’s Redskins sideline.
Manziel claims his reactions were based on the incessant taunting by the Redskins during Monday night’s televised game as he made the gesture in the Cleveland’s huddle.
Manziel said. “I should have been smarter because it was a Monday Night Football game and the cameras were more than likely rolling directly on me, and I need to be smarter about that.”
Manziel is known for his finger-rubbing “money” sign he made famous while winning the Heisman Trophy at Texas A&M; and he never appears to shy away from those gestures on the field.
He is expecting the trash talk to continue his way; and he said, “Since my name has grown bigger and people knows who I am, it just continues to go as the games continue to go on; and I don’t know if there is a single level of severity each game, but I know it’s there and its present every game. I just need to let it slide off my back and go to the next play. I feel like I did a good job of holding my composure throughout the night and you have a lapse of judgment and slip up.”
Cleveland’s starting job went to veteran Brian Hoyer…did Manziel’s finger flip influence his chances of winning Cleveland’s starting job?
Mike Pettine, the Brown’s coach, thought Manziel should have known better than to have reacted to Washington’s insults. He wants his high-profile rookie and his other players to be more mature in their decision makings on and off the field. He also said, “Manziel’s behavior factored into the team’s decision in naming a starter.”
Pettine said, “I want our team to ‘Play like a Brown;’ and act like a Brown. We have hundreds; thousands of kids come to our training camp practices, and look up to our players. That type of behavior is unacceptable. It’s something that’s part of football that you have to maintain your poise and your composure, especially at that position, and we should know better than anyone that all eyes are on him.”
It’s my opinion that all our “Sports Heroes” should have respect for those children who are looking up to them as an example for them to follow and keep their aggressive behaviors in tack for the sake of all children.
This article is written by Barbara Kasey Smith and it is based on a released Associated Press News Report on August 22, 2014.