Pat McManamonApr 14, 2015, 09:35 PM ETClose- Covered Browns, Cleveland sports since 1998
- Previously worked at Fox Sports Ohio, AOL Fanhouse, Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com
- Cleveland native, proud father of two daughters
Joe Thomas said Tuesday night that the Cleveland Browns were aware last season that things "were getting in the way" of Karlos Dansby said. "It wasn't allowing him to express himself the way we all saw him play at the collegiate level. Whatever he was dealing with was suppressing him. Him being able check himself in and try to get that relief, I think it was huge."What do his teammates expect of Manziel now?
"I think it will be important for him when he comes back to prove to the team, to everybody in the organization that football is the most important thing in his life and he is willing to commit to it and make it the most important thing in his life," Thomas said. "Because to be a successful NFL quarterback, that's what you have to do.
"I think there was some doubt based on what he did last year if football was the most important thing. He's made some excellent strides already in the offseason kind of setting himself up."
Thomas said what matters more is what Manziel does through organized team activities, training camp and, ultimately, the season.
"[The offseason is] part of the journey," Thomas said, "but in the end it's what you do during the season. Certainly I think he's set himself up really nicely by the steps he's taken already to really prove that he can be the guy. Right now is kind of the start of the process.
"Like I said, what you do on Sundays is what you are judged by in this game."
"I believe that he'll come in, he'll earn our trust back, he's that type of guy," Whitner said. "He'll have to compete for his job. I believe he'll be up for that challenge. We will welcome him back with open arms."