NFL finds “insufficient basis” to discipline Johnny Manziel

The NFL doesn’t have a very good record at disciplining players. Tom Brady laughs in their face. Greg Hardy saw his suspension reduced from 10 games to four in the face of real evidence. That evidence apparently didn’t exist in enough sufficiency for the NFL to take action against Johnny Manziel who was involved in an incident on the road with a drunken girlfriend that resulted in multiple 911 calls.

Here’s the NFL’s statement:

Consistent with the procedures of the league’s Personal Conduct Policy, we have examined the available evidence regarding the recent incident involving Johnny Manziel. Our investigation included a thorough review of information from law enforcement and our own interviews with multiple individuals, including the two involved in the incident. Based on the information gathered, we have concluded that there is an insufficient basis on which to take disciplinary action. In all cases of this nature, under the Personal Conduct Policy our concern goes well beyond the issue of discipline, and we have made comprehensive professional resources available on a confidential basis.

I’m unsure how much trust anyone has in the NFL with regard to discipline at this point and I’ve suggested that they should probably stop trying to pretend that their brand of discipline – numbers of games and associated checks – can be appropriately tied to the kinds of real crimes committed in the real world. Alas, it becomes a non-issue for Johnny Manziel this time.

For Manziel the timing couldn’t be better as the team has their bye week and looks to get him prepared to start for the rest of the season. As the Browns as a team look to hit the reset button on their woeful season, Johnny Manziel might just get the chance to put yet another potentially negative thing behind him as well, and scott free at that.