NFL hands out four-game suspension to Johnny Manziel

DALLAS (AP) — Johnny Manziel has been suspended for the first four games of next season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, and the free agent quarterback could face further discipline over his domestic violence case if he signs with another team.

The suspension announced Thursday is not related to the league’s domestic violence policy, but Manziel would be subject to standards that were toughened two years ago if he signs with another team. The 23-year-old Manziel, released by Cleveland in March, faces a misdemeanor assault charge in Dallas involving former girlfriend Colleen Crowley.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Texas A&M was suspended the same week he posted pictures on Instagram from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

The post included a reference to his father, Paul Manziel, who called his son a “druggie” following a report from The Associated Press of one of his attorneys mistakenly sending a text that indicated doubts whether Manziel could stay clean.

A spokeswoman for Manziel declined to comment on the NFL’s suspension.

As Manziel’s domestic case has played out, he has been photographed partying from Hollywood to Las Vegas to New York in recent months. His own family has expressed concern about his well-being after he was cut by the Browns following two underwhelming seasons.

Manziel spent more than two months in rehab after a difficult first season with the Browns, and the player dubbed “Johnny Football” for his exploits on the field with the Aggies vowed to be more committed to football when he got out.

After showing promise in a couple of starts in his second season, Manziel was demoted to third team after a video surfaced of him partying during the team’s bye week. Manziel returned to the starting lineup when Josh McCown broke his collarbone and led the Browns to a win over San Francisco.

Manziel sustained a concussion Dec. 27 at Kansas City and wasn’t required to be at Cleveland’s finale. But he skipped a required medical checkup and the team wasn’t sure of his whereabouts amid reports he was in Las Vegas, hitting the clubs while wearing a disguise.

One of Manziel’s defense attorneys, Bob Hinton, inadvertently sent a text to the AP last week indicating Manziel may have spent more than $1,000 at a drug paraphernalia store just 15 hours after he was involved in a hit-and-run crash.