The prefrontal cortex is in charge of higher-level executive reasoning. Johnny Manziel knows what's at stake, but seems to do a very bad job at balancing short-term payoffs against long-term payoffs. That's exactly what you'd expect to see from someone whose reward centers are lighting up like a Christmas tree, and whose ability to delay gratification is still just half developed. There are a number of conditions that can exacerbate this problem, too. God help Johnny Manziel if he happens to be ADHD on top of everything else.I don't necessarily disagree about 20 year olds being somewhat immature. That said, it only takes half a brain to realize what an opportunity you have to set yourself up for life. It concerns me when 20 year olds lack that half a brain.
He's not being judged against his future self, nor against the pool of 25 year olds. He's being judged against his peers.In my experience, 20 year olds, as a group, are not usually known for their maturity. The human prefrontal cortex isn't finished developing until around age 25- at age 20, it's about halfway between where it is in a 13 year old and where it is in a fully grown adult. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for inhibiting impulses, planning behavior, and working towards a long-term goal. Also, the reward centers of the brain go nuts at puberty and takes at least a decade to settle back down, which is why teenage boys do crazy stupid things.
We grant adult rights and responsibilities to 18-year-olds and expect them to behave like 40-year-old men, but the truth is, they're still just adolescents. I know that who I was at 20 was completely different from who I was at 25.
Great point.I wouldn't take him because he looks like a little nerd, never mind the maturity.
Maurice Clarett still got drafted. So did Terrelle Pryor. Cam Newton stole a laptop, was kicked out of the University of Florida by a coach who allegedly helped Aaron Hernandez cover up multiple run-ins with the police, allegedly solicited money from a school recruiting him, declared for the NFL after a single year as a starter, and then proudly announced to the assembled masses at the combine that he didn't think of himself as an athlete so much as an entertainer and an icon. For his troubles, he was selected with the #1 overall pick. Marvin Austin, Robert Quinn, and Greg Little were both drafted in the first two rounds in the NFL after being suspended for an entire season by UNC. Titus Young was a second rounder despite having more red flags than a Canada Day Parade in Ottowa.Adam, great points, but it doesn't matter to an NFL GM ultimately. If a player isn't mentally developed compared to others at the position, they aren't going to care why.
Your post proves the point. Of these guys who were more immature than the other immature 20 year olds, only Cam Newton has assembled anything that looks like an above average NFL career. Well, hernandez was also until said immaturity caught up with him.Maurice Clarett still got drafted. So did Terrelle Pryor. Cam Newton stole a laptop, was kicked out of the University of Florida by a coach who allegedly helped Aaron Hernandez cover up multiple run-ins with the police, allegedly solicited money from a school recruiting him, declared for the NFL after a single year as a starter, and then proudly announced to the assembled masses at the combine that he didn't think of himself as an athlete so much as an entertainer and an icon. For his troubles, he was selected with the #1 overall pick. Marvin Austin, Robert Quinn, and Greg Little were both drafted in the first two rounds in the NFL after being suspended for an entire season by UNC. Titus Young was a second rounder despite having more red flags than a Canada Day Parade in Ottowa.Adam, great points, but it doesn't matter to an NFL GM ultimately. If a player isn't mentally developed compared to others at the position, they aren't going to care why.
The NFL doesn't care if Manziel is mentally developed compared to others at his position. The NFL cares if he can run fast, throw straight, and read a defense.
His behavior in TIDAY's game would get him crossed off my draft board.He sat courtside at an NBA game. Took a picture with Lebron. Drank a beer. Thumbed his nose at the NCAA and their exploitation. I'd be pissed too being made out to be the bad guy in this NCAA circus.
The point was only to prove that NFL GMs don't care about red flags or immaturity if they think you're talented enough, and the fact that all of those players were drafted high proves it. If you'd rather, I can list plenty of other guys with questionable backgrounds who went on to have solid-to-spectacular careers. Luis Castillo tested positive for steroids at the combine and still went in the 1st round. Peyton Manning sexually assaulted a female trainer in college. Randy Moss got kicked out of Florida State (FLORIDA STATE!) for smoking weed while on probation. Percy Harvin was barred from competing in high school sports in the state of Virginia. Brandon Marshall was arrested in college for assaulting an officer. I can't even count the number of NFL players who were suspended at some point during college for violation of team rules or failed drug tests.Your post proves the point. Of these guys who were more immature than the other immature 20 year olds, only Cam Newton has assembled anything that looks like an above average NFL career. Well, hernandez was also until said immaturity caught up with him.Maurice Clarett still got drafted. So did Terrelle Pryor. Cam Newton stole a laptop, was kicked out of the University of Florida by a coach who allegedly helped Aaron Hernandez cover up multiple run-ins with the police, allegedly solicited money from a school recruiting him, declared for the NFL after a single year as a starter, and then proudly announced to the assembled masses at the combine that he didn't think of himself as an athlete so much as an entertainer and an icon. For his troubles, he was selected with the #1 overall pick. Marvin Austin, Robert Quinn, and Greg Little were both drafted in the first two rounds in the NFL after being suspended for an entire season by UNC. Titus Young was a second rounder despite having more red flags than a Canada Day Parade in Ottowa.Adam, great points, but it doesn't matter to an NFL GM ultimately. If a player isn't mentally developed compared to others at the position, they aren't going to care why.
The NFL doesn't care if Manziel is mentally developed compared to others at his position. The NFL cares if he can run fast, throw straight, and read a defense.
Not gonna lie, that'd be spectacular to see. He's got literally the perfect skillset for a CFL QB.He'll be in the CFL, where he belongs...
And if Manziel was 3-4 inches taller and 30-40 pounds heavier, he could do all the same stuff as Cam and still be in the conversation for #1 overall pick. Because he's roughly Drew Brees size, the "character issues" will push him down into the Josh Freeman to Jimmy Clausen range of late 1st to 2nd round. Someone will take a chance, and it won't necessarily be a bad risk, because as you pointed out his brain will develop in a few years and he'll be less of a POS.Maurice Clarett still got drafted. So did Terrelle Pryor. Cam Newton stole a laptop, was kicked out of the University of Florida by a coach who allegedly helped Aaron Hernandez cover up multiple run-ins with the police, allegedly solicited money from a school recruiting him, declared for the NFL after a single year as a starter, and then proudly announced to the assembled masses at the combine that he didn't think of himself as an athlete so much as an entertainer and an icon. For his troubles, he was selected with the #1 overall pick. Marvin Austin, Robert Quinn, and Greg Little were both drafted in the first two rounds in the NFL after being suspended for an entire season by UNC. Titus Young was a second rounder despite having more red flags than a Canada Day Parade in Ottowa.Adam, great points, but it doesn't matter to an NFL GM ultimately. If a player isn't mentally developed compared to others at the position, they aren't going to care why.
The NFL doesn't care if Manziel is mentally developed compared to others at his position. The NFL cares if he can run fast, throw straight, and read a defense.
I blame Jerry Springer.Sports are not sports anymore, people love the drama off the field too much. Does he throw the ball well on Saturday? Good enough for me.
Which is excellent advice if his goal is to become a fully actualized human being, willing to take a stand and make great sacrifices in the name of what he believes is right.In a world where pointing to the scoreboard should shut you up and make you play better to win, we blow a whistle and throw a flag instead. We have gone soft... A Society of Wusses.
All this because people are mad he tried to make money by writing his own name, forget the rule is stupid, we say its "still a rule and it should be followed." Nope, it is a rule that should be disregarded and disrespected by every student athlete. You are not property, do not allow yourself to be treated like it. I do not give a damn about the so called free education they get, education should be free for all anyways.
I agree. The NCAA is the machine that drives slavery.What's great is there was a montage of people just bashing Manziel on ESPN. Palmer, May, Holtz, Smith and many others just telling people in TV land how he is a detriment to the team and is a spoiled brat. Did he still help his team win regardless of all that? Fools who put on makeup talking smack about people sweating disgusts me. lol
He is the Heisman winner and the reason this team is even ranked, but he is a detriment to the team. lol
I'm sick and F'n tired of people being forced to act up to other peoples expectations, it's pathetic, I applaud Manziel for giving a middle finger to ESPN, his opponents and #### talkers by his taunting on the field, we need more of it.
In a world where pointing to the scoreboard should shut you up and make you play better to win, we blow a whistle and throw a flag instead. We have gone soft... A Society of Wusses.
All this because people are mad he tried to make money by writing his own name, forget the rule is stupid, we say its "still a rule and it should be followed." Nope, it is a rule that should be disregarded and disrespected by every student athlete. You are not property, do not allow yourself to be treated like it. I do not give a damn about the so called free education they get, education should be free for all anyways.
Saban would do about the same thing Sumlin do if he were coaching A&M this year. Anyone could bench him if they coached Alabama right now. They have 5* players 3 deep at every position.Kevin Sumlin needs to step up. Think Manziel would do that stuff if Nick Saban was his coach? How many football players would come off the field and bump into Saban and blow him off. Sumlin says he never saw the fake autograph signing stunt, well he sure as heck should have seen it by now or at least when watching film. Sumlin should sit him out another half for acting like an idiot.
He is displaying an exceptional lack of common sense, well beyond what you'd attribute to age.
Yeah, the apologists who are trying to excuse the behavior just because the kid's young seem way off base here. Yes, we were all a bit more stupid when we were 20. I'm judging him not as a 45 year old, but as a 20 year old when I've seen 15 year olds have far more of a sense of responsibility, of being a gentlement, of self respect and respect of others.He is displaying an exceptional lack of common sense, well beyond what you'd attribute to age.![]()
In fact it's getting to the point you have to wonder if he's trying to sabotage himself. It's been one long string of fairly minor problems that add up to a guy with a bigger issue IMO.
Totally agree. The kids an entitled brat. His immaturity is being gaged against peers, not middle aged men. He stands out as immature while standing in a group of immature folks. The fact that some are defending this is funny to me.Yeah, the apologists who are trying to excuse the behavior just because the kid's young seem way off base here. Yes, we were all a bit more stupid when we were 20. I'm judging him not as a 45 year old, but as a 20 year old when I've seen 15 year olds have far more of a sense of responsibility, of being a gentlement, of self respect and respect of others.He is displaying an exceptional lack of common sense, well beyond what you'd attribute to age.![]()
In fact it's getting to the point you have to wonder if he's trying to sabotage himself. It's been one long string of fairly minor problems that add up to a guy with a bigger issue IMO.
So please, stop with the 'he's 20' crying. Just about ever 20 year old I know is somewhat stupid - and they fall so far short of John-Me Football's entitled, selfish arrogance that his pathetic lack of character (at least from what we can see / know of him) shines like a beacon of immaturity even when viewed within the context of what you can expect from an immature period of life.
Apparently, that quality can not be correctly ascertained until you are 25. You can volunteer to join the army, die for our country, be tried as an adult & executed and vote at 18.Maybe he's just a ####.
This is quite sensationalistic, don't you think? Signing autographs and taunting the opposition don't exactly seem like precursors to serial homicide to me.If he gets a 1 out of 10 on the Social Maturity Test, any team that takes him is just asking for another Aaron Hernandez situation.
Johnny Football is a complete "Avoid".
Yes, red flags will get him pushed down the draft board. Had Andrew Luck gotten suspended for smoking pot, maybe Griffin would have gone #1 and Luck gone #2. If Terrelle Pryor hadn't gotten suspended, maybe there's a chance he pulls a Pat White and sneaks into the second. If Da'Rick Rogers wasn't a serial idiot, he probably gets drafted. If Tyrann Mathieu wasn't a serial idiot, who knows, maybe he makes it into the first round. These things absolutely matter.Adam, are you trying to say that immaturity and character issues don't effect a players draft position? I'm not saying he won't get drafted. But you have to be crazy to believe that a QB who may act like a tool and expose the team to tabloids etc. wouldn't negatively impact his draft position. Even half a round or so. Teams absolutely factor maturity into their draft boards.
hes not using PCP or ordering the murder of people around him; plus I saw it as him taunting the system instead of just the opponent. Pretty amusing IMO.This is quite sensationalistic, don't you think? Signing autographs and taunting the opposition don't exactly seem like precursors to serial homicide to me.If he gets a 1 out of 10 on the Social Maturity Test, any team that takes him is just asking for another Aaron Hernandez situation.
Johnny Football is a complete "Avoid".
. My fear is that the bolder above is much more probable given his arrogance and clear lack of ability to lay low. In other words, an arrogant kid who clearly believes he's above it all, may only right now be displaying this through thumbing his nose @ the NCAA. But it also raises the possibility that this hyper arrogance would manifest itself in greater and greater folly. Pride and arrogance on the field may lead to a gunslinger style if play. Off the field, it leads to reckless behavior. Smoke often leads to fire.Yes, red flags will get him pushed down the draft board. Had Andrew Luck gotten suspended for smoking pot, maybe Griffin would have gone #1 and Luck gone #2. If Terrelle Pryor hadn't gotten suspended, maybe there's a chance he pulls a Pat White and sneaks into the second. If Da'Rick Rogers wasn't a serial idiot, he probably gets drafted. If Tyrann Mathieu wasn't a serial idiot, who knows, maybe he makes it into the first round. These things absolutely matter.Adam, are you trying to say that immaturity and character issues don't effect a players draft position? I'm not saying he won't get drafted. But you have to be crazy to believe that a QB who may act like a tool and expose the team to tabloids etc. wouldn't negatively impact his draft position. Even half a round or so. Teams absolutely factor maturity into their draft boards.
At the end of the day, though, if NFL GMs think he's the next Robert Griffin, they'll take him in the first. If NFL teams don't take him in the first, that's probably more an indictment of his perceived ability than it is of his perceived maturity- like karmarooster pointed out, Cam Newton gets much more leeway because he's 3 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier. Especially because NFL teams aren't dummies- they know that 20-year-old kids are going to get smarter and more mature. And most especially of all because Johnny Manziel's "maturity issues" are practically a non-issue, as far as the NFL is concerned. Name the last NFL player to get suspended for taunting or signing autographs. In college, these are huge boogeymen because they attack the very (stupid) idea of "amateurism" and the "purity of the game". In the NFL... who cares? Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens were taunting fools. Their coaches didn't necessarily like it, but how many games did they miss because of it? If Johnny Manziel continues being an idiot in the league, it'll cost him a lot of cash and it'll cost his team a half-dozen 15 yard penalties, but how's that any different than what Ndamakong Suh brings to the table?
I'd imagine Manziel's draft stock would be far more impacted by repeated failed drug tests or night club altercations than it would by whatever nonsense he's been getting himself into.