Do you want Johnny Manziel at #8?

[PacificNorseWest]

Don't be suckered by these pro days, VMB fam.

[CbusVikesFan]

I think Cassel playing better than average under Norv won't be a surprise at all. He could very well play out the next two years as the new regime massages the next QB of the future.

Let's hope so.

[dead_poet]

Well, forget Manziel then.

I wouldn't be so sure about that, hommie.

"All you that say Johnny Manziel can't read defenses can kiss my ####!" -Jon Gruden

[maembe]

I wonder what he means by "different" and "sideshow"? I hope it means that Zimmer and Turner liked the work out, but they're looking for more, hence "side show". I read the article on ESPN about how Turner evaluates QB, quizzing their brains out. Maybe "different" just means he came out in pads

It seems like some sneaky editing by someone who wanted to make Zimmer's comments more newsworthy. Why else would you only quote two non-consecutive words? It seems like they were trying to make the whole thing more controversial than it actually was.

[dead_poet]

Well, there's also this (FWIW):

Norv Turner calls Johnny Manziel “amazingly accurate”

“He was amazingly accurate,” Turner told the Houston Chronicle. “He showed all the things he needed to show. People who’ve watched a lot of tape on him are pretty familiar with what he can do. It’s good to see a guy in person, though.”

Turner, however, has been talking up other quarterbacks in this year’s draft as well. Turner previously raved about Derek Carr after Fresno State’s Pro Day, and even after Teddy Bridgewater’s Pro Day, which most observers said was disappointing, Turner said he thought Bridgewater looked fine.

So the Vikings are probably going to avoid tipping their hands about which quarterback they like by saying they like every quarterback.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... -accurate/

[Mothman]

So the Vikings are probably going to avoid tipping their hands about which quarterback they like by saying they like every quarterback.

That's actually a logical approach but it's amusing when phrased that way.

[losperros]

^Isn't everyone's pro day choreographed? Johnny's wasn't any different, Wearing the pads was different but made sense...

No one said otherwise. Zimmer didn't necessarily knock Manziel, but rather he said what he thought. Looks like Manziel isn't the only one who speaks his mind.

"The huddles and the different things and the music. The sideshow stuff," Zimmer said. "It was a sideshow."

One thing we have learned from Manziel,is that he does things in his own way, whether it's throwing in pads and a helmet or having Nike marketing the very Pro Day outfit he wore that day. It comes with the territory when you plan to draft Johnny Manziel. The Vikings own the No. 8 pick in the draft, and if they're planning on drafting Manziel, they may have to move up for chance at landing him. Manziel and his "sideshow" of a Pro Day may have slightly raised his stock.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... 751&spln=1

[J. Kapp 11]

I'm on the fence.

On one hand, the trendy thing in the NFL is the mobile quarterback, throwing on the run and running the read-option. The problem is that those guys tend to get hurt, and they don't tend to lead their teams to Super Bowls. Russell Wilson is the notable exception, but even he basically stopped running the read-option in 2013. He throws on the run a lot, and he's dangerous doing it, so if Manziel can play as well as Russell Wilson, I'm good with it. Big "if."

On the other hand, the proven commodity in quarterbacks, the type of quarterback who wins most Super Bowls, is the great pocket-passer who can make all the throws, read defenses like a supermarket tabloid, set protection, manipulate safeties with his eyes, and have just enough mobility to avoid the rush and deliver the ball where it needs to go. Manziel definitely has the mobility, but what about the rest of it? Does he have the ability to run plays as called? Can he stand in the pocket and deliver the ball on time? Can he move a safety? Can he put the ball in a tight NFL window? Can he check to the right play at the line? Can he set his protection properly? We just don't know ... and we NEVER really know until a guy starts taking snaps in the NFL. As so many NFL busts have proven, it's not all about talent.

The one thing ALL Super Bowl quarterbacks tend to have is great leadership ability. Manziel seems to have that in spades.

So the bottom line is that I honestly can't tell if he's a once-in-a-generation quarterback, or just another guy who's too small, too stubborn, too (fill in the blank).

If he ends up with the Vikings, I'll be happy about it. And if he doesn't, I'll be OK with that, too.

[Delaqure]

Well if the Vikes do get Manziel and I'm not sure they will, it won't be a reach. It will be a calculated gamble and I'm OK with that.

On draft day if we do trade up we will be going after a qb and I won't be surprised if it's him. If we don't trade then we are probably skipping the qb this year. I can't wait until draft day!

[cogitator]

The one thing ALL Super Bowl quarterbacks tend to have is great leadership ability. Manziel seems to have that in spades.

So the bottom line is that I honestly can't tell if he's a once-in-a-generation quarterback, or just another guy who's too small, too stubborn, too (fill in the blank).

Besides leadership, he has two qualities I think are great and can't be taught, or instilled in a player as the case may be. One, and oddly enough I don't think this is true of all good players (Jadeveon Clowney possibly, Jamarcus Russell certainly) - he really enjoys playing football. You can see his enthusiasm when he is out there. And two, he's really competitive, he really wants to win, he'll do what it takes to win.

One other thing, my impression of him is he isn't going to be overwhelmed by the moment in a big game when it gets to crunch time. I think he would possibly be even better when the pressure is on.

[Mercy Percy]

Well, forget Manziel then.

Are you just perceiving him to be some bonehead college jock? Hes super bright and paraphrasing from what Mike Mayock said is his retention of little details and numbers is ridiculous.

[mosscarter]

zimmer said manziel's pro day was a "sideshow." there is no way we draft manziel as far as i see it. zimmer talked about manziel's maturity issues and its apparent he was disappointed with his pro day.

[VikingLord]

I think some of you may be putting too much stock in the impact a pro day can have on a player's draft position.

I don't know. It sure seemed to positively impact the informed opinion of more than one NFL "expert":

http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/20 ... -draft-qb/

[Mothman]

I don't know. It sure seemed to positively impact the informed opinion of more than one NFL "expert":

http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/20 ... -draft-qb/

Sure but those draft experts LIVE for this stuff and it seems like some of them allow it to heavily influence their opinions. I think they build up the significance of these little landmarks along the way to the draft but for teams, I'm betting game tape, interviews, private workouts, etc. carry a lot more weight than these somewhat choreographed, planned, comfortable pro days. I'm sure the pro days have some impact but,for example, I'm guessing the Vikings will give much more weight to the private workout they reportedly want to have with Manziel and I'm also guessing they'll try to get him out of his comfort zone a little more.

[Mothman]

I don't always like Judd Zulgad's writing or his attitude but I think he has a good perspective on this:

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Zulg ... 032714?t=2

Here's hoping that NFL executives are able to show far more sanity than many of us in the media.

If that's not the case, Johnny Manziel will be the top pick of the Houston Texans in May and it won't even be close. At least that's the impression you came away with Thursday after watching the quarterback go through his Pro Day before 75 officials from 30 teams at Texas A&M. (The Bears and Browns did not attend.)

The latest mock draft by ESPN's Mel Kiper that had Manziel going to the Vikings at No. 8? Get ready for that to be adjusted.

Kiper's employer and the NFL Network were just two of the entities that provided breathless reports about how Manziel completed 61 of 64 passes to six receivers.

How did Manziel handle the pressure from rushing linemen or how successful was he in pump-faking against the safeties?

C'mon, don't be a killjoy.

More at the link.