Silver Stands by Report on Manziel Being Drunk at Practice; Regrets Saying Browns ‘Lied’

After a report earlier today that the Browns ‘lied’ about the situation regarding quarterback Johnny Manziel that the team covered up him showing up drunk for practice, Mike Silver of NFL.com and the NFL Network is standing by his story.

The veteran NFL journalist did state he wishes he would have never said the Browns ‘lied’ but does say he does stand by the report that the QB was intoxicated.

“I’ve been told by multiple sources that Manziel showed up late to the team facility for a meeting & noticeably drunk on Wednesday, Dec. 30,” Silver wrote today. “He was later placed in the concussion protocol & sent home. I am not a doctor & thus cannot presume to question the diagnosis of an independent neurologist or any medical professional.

“I do not have direct knowledge of what Manziel may have told the doctor or doctors who evaluated him, or what might have been suggested. If the Browns say they did not lie about Manziel’s diagnosis, I will take them at their word, and I regret using that term (‘lied’). I stand by my original report that Manziel showed up drunk at practice & that witnesses believed this was the cause of his ‘behavior’.”

The Browns have come out and said that Manziel was indeed in concussion protocol and that he wasn’t cleared by a doctor until January 18th.