Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Shadin Maali has been named Emgage’s new Senior Director of Growth and Operations
    Emgage hires former Illinois Congressional aid to help expand their reach Activism
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 American Arabs
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd American Arabs
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022 Activism
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast Arab News
  • State Rep. Cyril Nichols interviewed on live Arab American radio in Detroit with host Ray Hanania Friday Dec. 9, 2022
    Nichols discusses need to improve Arab-Black relations in Chicagoland American Arabs
  • Voting sticker issued to voters in Cook County elections in 2016. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Gov. Pritzker Announces Six Appointments to Boards and Commissions — no Arabs included American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Pritzker again ignores needs of Arab businesses in latest appointments Activism
  • Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) official candidate endorsements for the November 8, 2022 General elections.
    Arab American Democratic Club issues endorsements for Nov. 8, 2022 Cook County Illinois elections Activism
  • Arab Democrats urge NO VOTE on Gov. J.B. Pritzker re-election bid Activism
  • Assyrian American GOP issues endorsements in Nov, 8, 2022 elections
    Assyrian American GOP group endorses candidates in Illinois Activism
  • Abdullah Hammoud, elected Mayor of Dearborn Nov. 2, 2021. Photo courtesy of Abdullah Hammoud Facebook Page
    AHRC’s 2022 Spirit of Humanity Gala a Great Success American Arabs
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts Arab World
  • Rep. Cyril Nichols to be feted by supporters at fundraiser Saturday Oct. 22 Activism

Cleveland Browns bench American Arab Johnny Manziel

Posted on November 27, 2015September 24, 2018 By rayhanania No Comments on Cleveland Browns bench American Arab Johnny Manziel
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

American Arab quarterback Johnny Manziel benched by the Cleveland Browns over off-field behavior.

By Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania covering Chicago City Hall (1976-1992)
Ray Hanania
covering Chicago
City Hall
(1976-1992)

American Arab football star Johnny Manziel was benched Wednesday as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns after another incident described by team management as “unacceptable” off-field behavior.

Manziel, the son of a wealthy Texas wildcatter who immigrated from Lebanon in the late 19th century, grabbed the sports spotlight in 2012 earning the Heisman Trophy while at Texas A&M University.

Manziel was the most anticipated professional football player to enter the professional football draft last year in May at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. He was expected to be picked in the first round draft. Instead, he sat sullen-faced until the 22nd round when he was picked up by the Cleveland Browns.

Manziel’s persistence seemed to pay off last week, when the Cleveland Browns named Manziel as the replacement for starter quarterback Josh McCown, who was injured during the Pittsburgh game Nov. 15.

As Cleveland’s new starting quarterback, it seemed like Manziel was back on track.

But as quickly as he rose, he was toppled. This week, a video showed him partying wildly and Wednesday, Cleveland Browns Coach Mike Pettine announced the team was benching Manziel.

Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns, with Texas Governor Rick Perry
Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns, with Texas Governor Rick Perry

“Everyone in this organization wants what’s best for Johnny. He has shown tremendous improvement,” Pettine told reporters after moving Manziel from starting quarterback to the lowest ranked “third team quarterback.”

“But he has got to make better decisions. We are going to continue to coach him in every way possible to get him where he needs to be. This is a decision I know for him in particular stings in the short-term but feel it is absolutely necessary to maximize his chances for future success.”

Pettine said it was “fixable” for Manziel, adding he could return as a starter next year.

“Last week, we made him a started. You can see how quickly that has changed,” said Pettine who noted that Josh McCown would return as the starter quarterback in Monday’s game against Baltimore Ravens. “On the personal front, we all recognize he (Manziel) has a ways to go.”

Here are two videos of Pettine’s press conferences and comments on Manziel, posted by the Cleveland Browns. Click here for the press conference. Click here for additional comments on Manziel.

Johnny Manziel, Official Cleveland Browns photo
Johnny Manziel, Official Cleveland Browns photo

The party video was only the latest in a series of off-field bad behavior. Last year, Manziel reportedly spent the post season in rehab for a drinking problem. The Cleveland Browns stood by him and supported him as he worked to overcome his troubles.

Then, on October 12, police were called in following several 9-1-1 calls involving a domestic incident with his girlfriend, Colleen Crowley. Crowley reportedly admitted to police that she had been drinking but Manziel was not given a sobriety test.

Again, the Cleveland Browns stood by their rising football star. Manziel promised he wouldn’t embarrass the football organization.

The last straw for the Cleveland Browns was the video, which showed Manziel partying and holding a bottle of champagne while singing rap music after last week’s Ohio State-Michigan State game at Columbus, Ohio.

While playing for Texas A&M University, Manziel broke numerous NCAA, FBS and SEC football records including becoming the first freshman and fifth player in NCAA history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in one season. During his record-setting performance as quarterback of the Texas Aggies, he earned his nickname “Johnny Football” for his spectacular performance. The nickname is now trademarked for him.

Manziel is the great grandson of Texas oil wildcatter Bobby Manziel who grew up in Arkansas and was a sportswriter for the Fort Smith newspaper. Bobby Joe Manziel was also a bantamweight boxer known as “The Syrian Kid” when he was younger and who was friends of and sparred with the great boxer Jack Dempsey.

Click here for more info.

It was Dempsey who reportedly loaned Bobby Manziel the money in the 1930s to invest in oil drilling in Gladewater where he stuck a huge oil find to become one of the richest families in East Texas. The first oil well was called the “Johnny Manziel-Jack Dempsey” Oil Field Number 1. Manziel went on with Dempsey to discover nine fabulously productive oil fields and named each one after one of his children.

Manziel’s Great Great Grandfather Yusef Manziel immigrated to America from Mt. Lebanon in 1883 with his wife Mary and their two year old son Esahiah. Esahiah later took the name “Bobby Joe.” The Manziel family first settled in Louisiana but later migrated to Arkansas.

Manziel isn’t the first American Arab to play in a professional American football league. Manziel once told reporters his personal hero was 1984 Heisman winner Doug Flutie from Boston College, who is also of Lebanese ancestry.

Manziel was 11 when a 41-year-old Flutie beat the odds and returned to the NFL after having been traded to the Canadian Football League.

Other famous American sportsmen and sports owners include John Elway, Abe Gibran, Fred Maalouf, George Maloof, Joe Robbie, Bill George and Blackhawks Stanley Cup player Brandon Saad. Click here for more info.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
RAY HANANIA — Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster

Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.

Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).

Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.

His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.

Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.

Click here to send Ray Hanania email.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Emgage hires former Illinois Congressional aid to help expand their reach - February 8, 2023
  • Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States - January 19, 2023
  • Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 - January 18, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
American Arabs, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Features, Ray Hanania, Sports Tags:American Arab, Cleveland Browns, football, Johnny Manziel, Lebanese American

Post navigation

Previous Post: Magen David Adom criticized for racism against Palestinians
Next Post: Breeding intolerance: Turkish soccer fans disrespect ISIS victims

Related Posts

  • Responding to 4chan’s “Why do the Jews still bully Mordechai Vanunu” Arab World
  • Book Cover of The Map of Salt and Stars by author Jennifer Zeynab
    New book explores the Syrian Refugee crisis Arab World
  • DCEO Celebrates Arab American Heritage Month (AAHM) American Arabs
  • Podcast: Sam Rasoul discusses Arab political empowerment; Rateb Rabie discusses fate of Middle East Christians American Arabs
  • El-Mouradia-Palace, courtesy of Abdennour Toumi
    Algeria-France Relations: Love & Hate Mode Abdennour Toumi
  • The Crone, Iraq and a Cool Cat American Arabs

More Related Articles

A 9/11 book the world needs to read, Jeremy Scahill’s “Dirty Wars” American Arabs
Kurds protest for independence. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi Ahmet Uysal discusses Kurdish independence from Iraq Abdennour Toumi
Photo: Toni Breidinger Arrives to NASCAR's Drive for Diversity Award Ceremony (Credit: Blair Brown) Arab American race car driver Toni Breidinger receives NASCAR Hall of Fame award American Arabs
Mordechai Vanunu Reports Latest News; Trio of Google Alerts and a Portrait of Vanunu Arab World
Gut-wrenching Nuclear Deceptions and the G-7 American Arabs
الوطن و استراتيجية الغضب Arab News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Tiktok.com/@RayHanania
    Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States
    January 19, 2023
  • Ghassan Rubeiz
    To what extent is Hezbollah responsible for the current crisis in Lebanon?
    January 17, 2023
  • Image from Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's "A Compendium of Chronicles. Image courtesy of Wikipedia
    Why allow religious extremists to re-define Islam in the West?
    January 10, 2023
  • CAIR Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad
    This Thanksgiving, let’s use our Blessings for good
    November 23, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Shadin Maali has been named Emgage’s new Senior Director of Growth and Operations
    Emgage hires former Illinois Congressional aid to help expand their reach
    February 8, 2023
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Shadin Maali has been named Emgage’s new Senior Director of Growth and Operations
    Emgage hires former Illinois Congressional aid to help expand their reach
    February 8, 2023
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme