Former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel checked in with Scoop B Radio to discuss a wide range of topics, offering his unfiltered perspective on the current cultural landscape in sports and entertainment.
Manziel, who knows a thing or two about intense public scrutiny, weighed in heavily on the path of highly-touted college prospects like Shedeur Sanders, drawing parallels to his own polarizing entrance into the league in 2014.
He specifically addressed the cultural judgment and “hate” that athletes face when they don’t conform to the “typical” NFL quarterback standard, delivering a passionate defense of those who choose to march to the beat of their own drum.
Beyond the football field, Manziel opened up about his deep and enduring friendship with hip-hop superstar Drake, explaining why he could never be neutral during the recent high-profile beef with Kendrick Lamar.
Furthermore, the conversation touched on the financial shift in college sports, where Manziel reflected on the new NIL era that allows athletes to capitalize on their own fame. It’s a candid conversation spanning from the gridiron’s cultural battlegrounds to the most intense rap rivalry in years.
Johnny Manziel’s Q&A
This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity and space. You can watch the full, unedited interview by clicking here.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Scoop B Radio, here with Johnny Manziel, what’s going on sir?
Johnny Manziel: Nothin’ man having a great day. Here at the Pump Event, David and Dan are great friends for a long long time. A lot of golf, a lot of memories and some of my favorite people on Earth so I’m glad to be with them here today with them.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: With Shedeur Sanders entering the NFL, do you see any similar parallels between his entrance and your own when you joined the Browns in 2014?
Johnny Manziel: Yeah. I think he’s polarizing. I think that he’s got so much buzz and hype around him. He’s loved by many and I think people are interested in his story. I think the way he’s carrying himself and the way he’s handling himself is remarkable, you know? I’ve had the opportunity to know his dad for many many years so, I am in his corner and I’m rooting for him, and I think he’s handling things the right way.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: When it comes to the criticism Shedeur faces, do you think it stems from actual hate, or is it simply people who don’t understand him?
Johnny Manziel: Towards him? I think that what happened throughout the draft created tension and hate towards the situation and what happened I think when you walk to the beat of your own drum and you do it differently than the norm and the standard of what a “typical” NFL quarterback is, you’re gonna get some hate. You’re gonna get some backlash and some kickback a little bit I guess. But he’s handling it well and he’s doing his thing and I continue to urge him to be himself.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: When you and Tim Tebow were coming up, you faced unique cultural scrutiny. Now, Shedeur Sanders is being called “too black” and “too confident.” As someone who has been through that, what are your thoughts on this type of ongoing scrutiny?
Johnny Manziel: I see a guy that is true to himself. I see a guy that likes what he likes and does what he wants to do, and some people don’t like that and that’s ok. Like, I was a guy who was hated on for being different and doing things a different way, but I was also loved for it as well. We live in a world where everything is scrutinized and everything is talked about. You’re never going to be the kind of person — not even Tim Tebow, not ever your favorite person, athlete or entertainer or whoever it might be is going to be loved by all and that’s just the reality of what the world is so, there’s always going to be hate and there’s always going to be someone with something to say and at the end of the day, excuse my language but fuck ‘em.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You seemed to stay neutral through the recent Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef. What was your approach during that time?
Johnny Manziel: You know, it’s one of those things that I am supportive of a guy that has been supportive of me through everything. Somebody who I love dearly and someone who my family loves dearly; who’s done so much for me, my sister, my mother, my father and so there’s no neutrality in that. Did I stay out of it and not really say a whole lot? Sure. But I am Team OVO and riding with that guy until my last day on this Earth and that’s always what the case will be simply because of what he’s done for me; who he is as a person and what he means to me in my soul.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Can you take us back to when you and Drake first met?
Johnny Manziel: 2013 in February on my spring break and I went to Toronto for the first time and I spent every dollar in my bank account to go meet the only person I ever wanted to meet and since that day, he’s continued to bless me and be a friend with advice with love and generosity and I’m super thankful for that and I’m very fortunate to be able to pick up the phone and call him a friend.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Where do you think the beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar went too far or “left?
Johnny Manziel: Well you know, it’s one of those things that got out of whack and to be honest, people who were fans of hip hop and fans of music… they did get some unbelievable music out of it and so you know, a crazy time, a crazy thing to see and it seems like it’s fizzing out a little bit now and it’s still obviously being talked about quite a bit but at the end of the day, OVO and the boys will always prevail at the end of the day and be around for eternity.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Would you like to see a storybook ending with LeBron James coming back to Cleveland for his final year in the NBA?
Johnny Manziel: I would like for him to do whatever — you know, the way they move and the way they are with Maverick and Rich and that whole crew, they’re going to make the best decision for them and what they want to do, right? They have the ability and the opportunity to do any and everything that they want — so if that’s going to Cleveland or wherever it may be, they’re on top of that but they’re some of the most genuine and smartest people on the face of the Earth and I was very fortunate of the time that I did spend with them and what I got to learn from them.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: College football players are making significant money now with NIL deals. Do you ever look back and feel you played in the wrong era?
Johnny Manziel: You know, it gets brought up so much that it’s a highly debated and talked about topic. But at the end of the day, I feel that I had somewhat a small impact on the story of my career to be able to shift the game to where it is today. So I’m happy for the guys and I’m excited for where it’s going and where they’ll get it to in the right position and I had something to do with it. And now guys are able to take advantage of it and change their life and their futures and their careers forever and so, big ups to them, much love and keep going and getting your bag boys! You deserve it.
Johnny Football Tells It Like It Is
Manziel’s insights confirm that the scrutiny placed on young, high-profile athletes remains a constant, whether it’s related to cultural identity or personal style. His message to Shedeur Sanders—to continue being himself—is a clear echo of the lessons learned from his own turbulent career under the spotlight.
The discussion highlights the lasting impact of his personal connections, particularly his unwavering loyalty to Drake, which he traces back to a pivotal meeting in 2013 that forever changed his life. On the business side of the game, Manziel expressed pride in playing a small role in the history that ultimately led to the NIL landscape, allowing today’s college athletes to secure their financial futures.
Ultimately, the conversation paints a picture of Manziel as a reflective figure who, despite his own dramatic experiences, remains a champion for authenticity and smart decision-making, even wishing well for LeBron James’s future wherever it may be.
He leaves no doubt that his opinions are rooted in genuine experience and an enduring sense of what it means to be unapologetically true to oneself in the public eye.
