Even though he is not playing for any team at the moment, the NFL suspended Johnny Manziel on Thursday for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
According to TMZ, which first reported the news, the suspension is for four games and the violation was not due to a performance enhancing drug. The suspension is effective immediately, meaning Manziel will miss the first four games of the 2016 season if a team signs him. However, the suspension does not roll over to 2017, meaning if he signs a contract for 2017 he will not miss a game due to this violation.
The former Cleveland Browns quarterback is currently partying in Cabo, Mexico and drugs were reportedly found at the mansion where he is staying. Manziel has said that the drugs aren’t his and that he’s not doing drugs in Mexico. Last Friday, his father, Paul, called his son a "druggie" who needs help.
Manziel responded to his dad by posting a pic of him wearing a Josh Gordon’s jersey with the caption the hashtag “hiDad.”
Manziel says he plans to start on the path to sobriety by on July 1 and a source close to the quarterback told ESPN that he is serious about getting sober.
"I do believe he's serious," the source said. "He's talked for a while about knuckling down, getting ready and working out. It's more about health and having options and feeling good. If that works out for this season, great. But if not, that's OK too."
Manziel was released by the Browns in March. He is facing misdemeanor assault charges in an incident with former girlfriend Colleen Crowley and will plead not guilty. He is also facing a lawsuit for allegedly taking part in the trashing of a Los Angeles rental home.