It’s time to put Gaudreau vs Manziel in perspective. Fans of Johnny Manziel and Johnny Gaudreau have had some curious opinions lately regarding the future of these young potential superstars. It’s a bit of an odd matchup but well worth a look.
Go to any social media platform and type in their names. The sentiments expressed by the media and fans range from ecstatic to furious.
Manziel was drafted in 2014 in the first round with the 22nd pick overall by the Cleveland Browns. Gaudreau was drafted in 2011 in the fourth round with the 104th pick by the Calgary Flames. Both won the highest honours in their respective collegiate sporting leagues.
Manziel won the Heisman Trophy in 2012 for being “the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.”
Gaudreau won the Hobey Baker Award, college hockey’s equivalent of the Heisman, in 2014 for being “the NCAA player who best exhibits strength of character both on and off the ice and contributes to the integrity of the team and displays outstanding skills in all phases of the game”.
Gaudreau vs Manziel
Here’s what fans and media are saying today about Manziel:
https://twitter.com/sweets_33/status/585869115828539393
Day off, 84 degrees, doggy bar, Johnny Manziel still in rehab #Daymade
— Jeremy Rembowski (@jvinrembowski) April 8, 2015
https://twitter.com/vacherielilone/status/585910439256567808
ESPN's Chris Mortensen says the Browns have mostly "moved on" from Johnny Manziel. |TMR
— Fresh NFL News (@GetNFLupdated) April 6, 2015
Wow! Okay then. We can’t go one day without someone suggesting Manziel has already has one foot out of Believeland.
But on the other hand there seem to be individuals, like center Alex Mack suggesting they haven’t lost any faith in him. That makes me wonder if it isn’t all just talk to keep the Browns relevant in a less than splashy offseason?
Regardless, here’s what fans and media are saying today about Gaudreau:
Johnny Gaudreau is my fav American-born NHLer….hope he wins the Calder Trophy! @nhl
— AJ🇨🇦🇻🇨 (@ajeezzy) April 7, 2015
@JoshRimerHockey If #Flames get in…it should be Johnny Gaudreau. #JohnnyHockey leads most categories for rookie scorers. #tightrookierace
— Jarv (@mjarvis16) April 8, 2015
https://twitter.com/ourbstfrenddoug/status/562447337692614656
That’s enough right there. It’s pretty amazing how far in the opposite direction the two Johnnys have travelled in their young careers.
Gaudreau hasn’t been attacked by the media in Calgary. Swarmed? Yes. It might be totally different if he was on the east coast but he’s in Cowtown where it’s pretty easy living. Most of it is because he’s adjusted in a very responsible and mature way to the next level. That’s something his counterpart has failed to do.
Manziel had better get on with it or go home and that’s exactly what he appears to be attempting by his course of actions recently. I hope they preach pocket awareness at whatever elitist rehab resort he bought for himself. No amount of good health can remedy a 375+ pound defensive lineman hammering you and putting you out. His awareness in the pocket is terrible so far and as the smaller, more outmatched man he won’t be able to run forever.
With the close of the NHL season looming the verdict is in and Johnny Hockey wins by a landslide.
