CLEVELAND BROWNS

Browns deny covering up for Johnny Manziel arriving drunk to practice

A.J. Perez
USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) walks around the field during pre game warmups against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field.

The Cleveland Browns denied a report Tuesday from NFL Network that the team lied about Johnny Manziel's concussion and that the quarterback instead had arrived to a practice drunk.

Manziel missed the final game of the Browns' regular season after the team said he had been diagnosed with a concussion days earlier. But NFL Network's Mike Silver reported Manziel arrived drunk to the team’s facility on Dec. 30 and the Browns “lied and said he was in the concussion protocol.” Silver said he was told the information by a current Browns player.

"Johnny Manziel came to our facility on the morning of December 30th and complained of concussion symptoms," a Browns spokesman said in a statement in response to the report. "He was tested by an independent neurologist and entered the league's concussion protocol. He remained in the protocol until January 12th after being cleared by the independent neurologist."

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Silver later wrote on Twitter he regretted saying the Browns lied about the concussion but maintained Manziel was drunk.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told USA TODAY Sports the league would have no comment on the report.

USA TODAY Sports reported on Jan. 2 - a day before the Browns were set to play the Cincinnati Bengals - that Manziel was seen gambling in Las Vegas.

Manziel was excused from attending the Browns’ final game, but Browns owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters that Manziel missed his appointment that day with team medical personnel, which is a requirement for players undergoing concussion treatment.

Manziel’s future with the Browns appears dim, especially in the wake of allegations that he assaulted an ex-girlfriend in the Dallas area last month.

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