Fran Tarkenton Doesn't Think Much of Johnny Manziel Based on the Preseason

Johnny Manziel did not enjoy a sterling – or even mediocre – NFL preseason, and quickly, the doubters are piling up. Remember the days when QBs could sit for a year or two to learn the system, and then contribute? No mas. Now, you must enter the NFL, light backups on fire in the preseason, and look the part of Future NFL Star. Russell Wilson did it! Blake Bortles is doing it! Johnny Manziel? Not so much. Hall of Fame QB Fran Tarkenton has chimed in:

"“He was very inaccurate. You can have the strongest arm or the weakest arm — but you cannot play quarterback if you’re not accurate with the football. It’s not a hard thing to do. The great ones are always accurate. He missed four or five passes last week that were way off the mark. You cannot teach accuracy. “He doesn’t look as quick. He looks hesitant. Right now, I don’t think he’s going to be an outstanding quarterback.”"

Tarkenton is an interesting guy to comment on Johnny Football – for a variety of reasons, his name is often mentioned alongside Manziel’s because of size and their penchant to run. They both came in to the NFL at the same age, but of course there are two things missing from this discussion: 1) Manziel has been hyped since he won the Heisman as a freshman at Texas A&M; 2) Manziel was a 1st round pick while Tarkenton was a third round pick over 50 years ago.

When was the last time an NFL Hall of Famer was asked about an NFL backup before the season? Can we all just accept he’s only 21 years old, pump the brakes on what he may or may not be in the pros, and wait for him to actually get under center on a Sunday in the regular season? Please?

Tarkenton may be right. Unless he’s wrong. Hey Fran, quick question – what size were the defensive front 7s in the NFL when you were playing?