Johnny Manziel, a former NFL player, has apologized to Drake for “letting him down” when he became too involved in partying and struggled with his football career.
When Manziel was selected in the 2014 NFL draft, Drizzy actively co-signed him and even wrote a song called “Draft Day” about him. The football player only lasted one season in the NFL before quitting, but they were close nonetheless—he even went so far as to get an OVO tattoo on his wrist.
The former Cleveland Browns player discussed his self-sabоtage with Shannon Sharpe in a new episode of his Club Shay Shay podcast, which was released on Wednesday, February 21. He also praised Drizzy and refuted the idea that there is a “curse.”
When Sharpe questioned him about his belief in the Drake curse—which some claim the rapper has over the sports teams and athletes he wagers on—he responded, “Who believes in curses like that?” “That person has a wonderful aura and the most cheerful vibe. Perhaps he occasionally makes bad decisions about people, teams, or anything else, or about his wagers, but that’s life, right? No curse exists. You know, to each his own, on that one.
“I make him proud if I manage my business well, right? Our connection shifts, so I feel like I let a lot of people down, and at one point in time, he and LeBron [James] were two individuals I really let down, don’t you think?
“To further elaborate, I don’t think I treated Drake the way that I should have in 2016 when it came to representing the clothes that I was wearing, his OVO brand, his label, and everything else,” he said later in the show. I was being so self-centered at the time that I was dragging everyone who was connected to me through the muck.
“I’m just calling it what it is and how I feel about it; I’m not dwelling on this in any manner. I really apologize to those individuals, and I hope that one day as a man I will have the chance to meet him face to face and be able to make amends.
Below is a link to see the entire program. Drake speaks with the listener twice, first at 1:46:13 and once at 2:15:17.
As a quarterback for Texas A&M Aggies, Johnny Manziel was getting into trouble for partying before he even made it to the NFL.
During a 2013 guest appearance on ESPN’s First Take, Drake was questioned on how much of the then-20-year-old Manziel’s actions were his own fault.
“In certain circumstances, accountability exists,” he stated. “I tell him that it takes a lot of sacrifice to be in this position, and I encourage him to have stronger discipline than anybody else.” And a lot of the time, I understand that you want to enjoy yourself and live your life, but we’re in this for the long haul. There’s also a greater picture.
“I try to instill that in his mind, and I tell him, ‘Let’s have that discipline; let’s sacrifice all the fun,” he went on. even if it requires you to visit me. You shouldn’t worry if they investigate you for visiting me. We’ll cross paths. You engage in your game.
In the most recent Club Shay Shay interview, Manziel stated that the two are still together and that their relationship is “one that changed my life for the better forever still to this day.”