“A strict diet of blow..” Ex-Browns QB Johnny Manziel discloses he lost 40 pounds from cocaine use

Manziel's excessive use of ill-prescribed substance took a bad toll on his health.

“A strict diet of blow..” Ex-Browns QB Johnny Manziel discloses he lost 40 pounds from cocaine use

SEC Network announcer Johnny Manziel looks on prior to the SEC Championship game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Image via IMAGO)

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel recently paid a visit to retired pro football player Shannon Sharpe on his podcast, Club Shay Shay. Manziel retraced troubled times in his short-lived NFL career.

Manziel struggled massively in Cleveland after the Browns drafted him in 2014. Not only was he unable to cope with the pressure of the NFL, but off it, he was an even bigger mess. The Browns were aware of the Texas A&M alumnus being a bit of a loose cannon, but they still gambled, and it backfired.

YouTube video

While speaking with Sharpe, the 31-year-old revealed that the situation had started to take a toll on his health. In January 2016, while the Browns were playing the final game of the season, Manziel was spotted at a casino in Las Vegas. 

He said:

I was 210 pounds when I left Cleveland. I was 170 pounds sitting in Vegas.
Johnny Manziel said

Shannon chimed in with the obvious question. The ESPN contributor wanted to know the cause of the sudden drop in weight.

How do you lose 40 pounds? You’re on a strict diet of blow.
Shannon Sharpe asked

Johnny Manziel’s failed NFL career

During his rookie campaign, Johnny Manziel played five games, starting two. In them, he registered 175 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. The next year, he had a 2-4 record from six starts, throwing for 1,500 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions. 

"A strict diet of blow.." Ex-Browns QB Johnny Manziel discloses he lost 40 pounds from cocaine use Manziel struggled massively in Cleveland after the Browns drafted him in 2014. Not only was he unable to cope with the pressure of the NFL, but off it, he was an even bigger mess. The Browns were aware of the Texas A&M alumnus being a bit of a loose canon, but they still gambled, and it backfired. While speaking with Sharpe, the 31-year-old revealed that the situation had started to take a toll on his health. In January 2016, while the Browns were playing the final game of the season, Manziel was spotted at a casino in Las Vegas.  "I was 210 pounds when I left Cleveland. I was 170 pounds sitting in Vegas," he said. Shannon chimed in with the obvious question. The ESPN contributor wanted to know the cause of the sudden drop in weight. "How do you lose 40 pounds? You’re on a strict diet of blow." Johnny Manziel's failed NFL career During his rookie campaign, Manziel played five games, starting two. In them, he registered 175 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. The next year, he had a 2-4 record from six starts, throwing for 1,500 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions.  Enough was enough, and the Browns cut him after that. As a result, he was in such a dark place that even NBA legend and Cleveland native LeBron James couldn't drag him out of it. "LeBron [James] would text me every week to come over and watch a game or play poker with the boys, or just try to be there. I was so depressed for the first time in my life that even the biggest role model and inspiration in my life couldn't get me out of bed," he said. It was not the first time that Manziel had opened up about his past troubles. In the 2023 Netflix documentary Johnny Football, he discussed it in length. Although he was going through hardships, his attitude remained the same. When anyone tried to bestow some advice, they would get ignored. As a result, a gap started to form between him and his near and dear ones. "The people closest to me were in the mindset of 'We have to let him go.' When that happened, it was full-blown, 'I'm going to rub this whole thing in your f-king face,'" Manziel said in the documentary
November 15th, 2015 Johnny Manziel 2 during the Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Image via IMAGO)

Enough was enough, and the Browns cut him after that. As a result, he was in such a dark place that even NBA legend and Cleveland native LeBron James couldn’t drag him out of it.

He said:

LeBron [James] would text me every week to come over and watch a game or play poker with the boys, or just try to be there. I was so depressed for the first time in my life that even the biggest role model and inspiration in my life couldn't get me out of bed.
Johnny Manziel said

It was not the first time that Manziel had opened up about his past troubles. In the 2023 Netflix documentary Johnny Football, he discussed it in length. Although he was going through hardships, his attitude remained the same. When anyone tried to bestow some advice, they would get ignored. As a result, a gap started to form between him and his near and dear ones.

Manziel said in the documentary:

The people closest to me were in the mindset of 'We have to let him go.' When that happened, it was full-blown, 'I'm going to rub this whole thing in your f-king face.
Johnny Manziel said

He claimed that everything was out of spite. While it’s not certain, his bipolar disorder could have played a major part in all of this. In an interview, he revealed that he was receiving treatment.

In case you missed it: