Patrick Johnson 
Rarely do you see a 22nd overall draft pick make as much noise as Johnny Manziel has in the past month, and yet here we are trying to the sort through Manziel Madness and he’s only been in training camp for about a week and a half. He’s done a lot with his time though, claiming to live life to the fullest by partying in Las Vegas on the weekends while moving up on the Browns’ depth chart during his work days and he did so in style by wearing the Air Jordan 6 “Oreo” PE Cleat. So we have to ask the question: what is Johnny Football’s potential as a Nike signature athlete?
Football is a tough sell in the world of footwear considering that whatever a player sports on-field will have to be modified in non-cleat form. It’s a funny double standard, that America’s most visibly popular sport has the toughest time selling sneakers in a country gone hungry for more of them, but industry legends like Bo Jackson and his Training series paved the way for athletes in the future to get their own Swoosh models. From Michael Vick in the early aughts to Darrelle Revis – the Nike Zoom Revis – and Calvin Johnson – the Nike CJ81 Trainer Max – the trend is clear: a player will get his own trainer after numerous years of being the best at their position in the league.
The truth is, Manziel has a ton of hype around him right now; he has an immense following off the field and has a star studded cast of buddies/supporters like LeBron James and Drake. The industry plays a part in this as well; competing brands in Under Armour and adidas are pushing young quarterbacks, and Manziel has every chance to be part of that RGIII/Cam Newton fraternity.
There’s not much more that Nike can do than keep a tight lid on the situation and watch the rookie closely. But let’s say he has a highlight reel rookie campaign (that some expect) – where does he stand among the list of players who may deserve signature sneakers? With a larger than life persona, a market where he’s the largest star, and nation-wide appeal (Manziel jerseys are top-sellers since the draft commenced), it’s safe to say that all Johnny Football has to do is what he supposedly does best – play football and his product will sell, despite playing for a franchise that is more often the butt of jokes. Both the Browns and the Swoosh are looking for Johnny to break the mold.
Will Manziel get his own signature shoe? Will he be appointed an “unofficial” signature shoe, like what the HyperRev is to fellow Cleveland pro athlete Kyrie Irving? Let us know what your thoughts are on the future on Manziel and Nike and stay tuned to Sneaker News for the latest developments.
Source: Cleveland Browns
