Cleveland Browns

Report: Johnny Manziel was unreachable prior to Browns game

Published Jan. 3, 2016 8:27 p.m. ET

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Ross Jones

Johnny Manziel enters his second offseason with more questions than answers.

The mercurial quarterback added another chapter to a season full of distractions on Sunday when reports surfaced that he skipped the team's concussion protocol earlier that morning and could not be reached.

While the franchise has stood behind the 23-year-old quarterback up until this point, major changes to the front office and coaching staff have created a ribbon of uncertainty. Both general manager Ray Farmer and head coach Mike Pettine were fired Sunday.

Manziel, who experienced a turbulent second season, was ruled out of the regular season finale earlier this week with a concussion.

The Browns still require players in the concussion protocol to be seen by the team's medical staff on Sunday even if they aren't playing.

The news of Manziel's no-show comes a day after Manziel was reportedly seen dining and gambling at Las Vegas' Planet Hollywood, according to employees and patrons who spoke to USA Today. A team executive told ESPN's Adam Schefter that though they are looking into the rumors, they believe Manziel was not there. 

Manziel posted a picture on his Instagram page Saturday showing him lying on carpet with his dog, tagged with an Avon, Ohio location: 

The Browns told ESPN.com they had no comment regarding the Manziel-in-Vegas story, but confirmed he wasn't with the team on game day. They also mentioned that Manziel wasn't required to be in attendance. 

Shortly after the team's 28-12 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, owner Jimmy Haslam informed Pettine and Farmer of their dismissal. Haslam promoted executive VP general counsel Sashi Brown to executive VP of football operations, ESPN's Adam Caplan reported.

FOX Sports 1's NFL insider Mike Garafolo lofted a question on Sunday, which will be one of the hottest talking points in football this offseason: 

Sports Illustrated's Peter King suggested in the same series of tweets as his reporting above that the Browns might have grown so weary of Manziel as to be "done" with him and that Manziel himself "wants to go to" the Dallas Cowboys.

Manziel's future is a decision that will assuredly dictate the short-term success -- or failure -- of the next regime in Cleveland.

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