The first round of last night's NFL Draft was "wildly unpredictable," exemplified by QB Johnny Manziel dropping to the 22nd pick, where he was taken by the Browns (N.Y. POST, 5/9). Johnny Football "became Johnny Free Fall, and now he's headed to Cleveland." The Browns within 25 minutes of Manziel's selection "had sold 200 new season tickets and had 300 renewed." Manziel jerseys are "now available at the team shop" (ESPN.com, 5/9). Manziel was selected about two hours and 40 minutes into the first round, and the "television shots of Manziel were getting painful to watch" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/9). Cameras captured him "playing with a bottle cap. Checking his phone. Taking another sip of water" (NFL.com, 5/9). The Radio City Music Hall crowd was "chanting his name" when he was greeted by Commissioner Roger Goodell on stage (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 5/9).
The "polarizing player's agonizing wait was the perfect fodder for social media," with the hashtag #BeforeManzielGetsDrafted trending on Twitter. After the Cowboys passed on him with the 16th pick, the NFL's official feed tweeted "#SadManziel?" (AP, 5/8). Ad Age's Michael McCarthy tweeted, "Somebody sponsor those water bottles Johnny Football keeps sipping from as he goes undrafted. Getting lots of screen time 2nite." "Late Show" Exec Producer Eric Stangel: "At least Johnny Manziel is staying hydrated."
