ESPN analyst Merril Hodge had some harsh words to say about America’s love, Johnny Football.
The second coming of Tim Tebow — in a polarizing sense — Johnny Manziel had every ESPN analyst drawing a line in the sand and picking sides for the war leading up to the NFL Draft this year.
Some loved him, some hated him, and there were a few in between.
One analyst who has never cared much for the young Heisman winner, however, is Merril Hoge.
As a running back who was not the fleetest of foot, but still made a serviceable career in the NFL, Merril Hoge is one of those guys who thinks of himself as a tough, grind-it-out, former player.
He does not appreciate the way young Manziel carries himself.
In fact, with the way Hoge talks about him, you would think he saw Manziel kissing his sister under the mistletoe or something. It’s not only that Hoge doesn’t like Manziel’s game, he doesn’t care much for Manziel as a person.
Earlier this month on ESPN, in the middle of one of Hoge’s many rants about how Manziel is going to crash, burn, and fall from grace, he even called the young Manziel a “juvenile punk.” He hated the way Johnny texted the Browns after being drafted saying, “Let’s wreck this league.”
It is understandable how, with the mentality of Hoge, he could dislike the money sign throwing, Manning Camp missing, and Las Vegas partying with Gronk.
He is probably a tad jealous of all the fame and fandom Manziel has accrued so quickly (I mean, who wouldn’t be?).
But Hoge goes after Manziel so arrogantly, as if he himself is an all-time great quarterback.
Hoge is a retired average player and a good analyst. He has been right with quarterbacks before and he could be right now. Manziel is drastically undersized and missed more open receivers this preseason than Notre Dame’s football team does classes.
But, as a major fan and a long-time curmudgeon hater, I hope with every fiber of my being that Manziel proves him wrong.
I hope he does in fact “wreck the league,” and I hope everyone goes straight to Hoge’s front door with the questions if he does.
It is one thing to give constructive criticism to a young player, but it is another thing entirely to go on TV and radio and disregard his talent and attack his character.
@JAjimbojr
jw331813@ohio.edu
