Pittsburgh Radio: ESPN Analyst Calls Manziel 'Juvenile Punk'

Merril Hoge

ESPN analyst and former Steelers running back Merril Hoge lit into Johnny Manziel Wednesday morning, following former Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason in saying the rookie quarterback is no match for the Steelers right now, according to cleveland.com.

"If you're the  Steelers' defense, you want No. 2 (Manziel) to walk out on that field," Hoge, the ESPN analyst, told Randy & The Morning Show on WDVE 102.5 FM Wednesday morning. "You want him on that field. He has no business being on the field right now."

Hoge, who also ripped former Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow when he was in vogue, doesn't view Manziel as a legitimate NFL quarterback. "This is the one thing that probably burns me more about our league, the NFL, than anything is when a player like Johnny Manziel is drafted based on hype and excitement, not a true football skill. He really had no business being drafted in the first round.''

Hoge took exception to Manziel texting quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains during the draft and declaring "we'll wreck this league.''

"That didn't just burn players; it infuriates coaches," Hoge said. "It told you, too, that he's a juvenile punk. He was like that, and he's still like that.''

He predicted a hasty exit for Manziel from the NFL, similar to that of Tebow.

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