This Is How Close the Dallas Cowboys Were to Drafting Johnny Manziel

Johnny Manziel, Cleveland’s Renaissance Man, was the dominate storyline of the 2014 NFL Draft. When the Cowboys went on the clock, many speculated Jerry Jones would (stupidly) pick Johnny Manziel just for the sake of keeping Texas’s native son in Texas. How close was Jerry Jones from the move? VERY, according to an account in Manziel Mania, a new book from Jim Dent. 

Hold on to your hats, Texas. Via Deadspin:

“I could just see Jones grabbing Manziel with the 16th choice of the first round,” Dent writes. “I wrote a book about Jerry Jones in 1995 titled ‘King of the Cowboys.’ I know the Boss Hog. I knew that Jones’ hands were shaking when the Cowboys went on the clock with Manziel still on the board. I could envision Jones scribbling the name of Johnny Manziel on the draft card. Indeed, all of these things happened.

“As it turned out, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones had snatched the Manziel card straight out of his dad’s hand. Otherwise, Jerry would have drafted him and JFF would have sat for at least three years behind Tony Romo.”

Brandon Wenerd is BroBible's publisher, writing on this site since 2009. He writes about sports, music, men's fashion, outdoor gear, traveling, skiing, and epic adventures. Based in Los Angeles, he also enjoys interviewing athletes and entertainers. Proud Penn State alum, former New Yorker. Email: brandon@brobible.com