Johnny Manziel’s NFL career could be on even thinner ice in the wake of ugly details that surfaced Thursday in his ex-girlfriend’s latest allegations of domestic violence.
According to a Dallas TV station, the troubled Browns quarterback told Colleen Crowley “shut up or I’ll kill us both,” struck her several times — including on the ear — and seemed to be on drugs during an alleged altercation in Dallas last Saturday.
Crowley returned to her apartment in Fort Worth, Texas, and used help from a neighbor to call 9-1-1, while Manziel fled from the scene on foot as Fort Worth police dispatched a helicopter to search for him out of concern for his safety.
WFAA-TV was quoting a report by police in Fort Worth, where Manziel currently lives.
Fort Worth police did not file charges because they determined the incident occurred in Dallas, and Dallas police announced Thursday night they will not file charges against Manziel, either, deeming the case “closed.”
According to TMZ Sports, Crowley also became “increasingly uncooperative” with Fort Worth police during their investigation and would not allow them to photograph her alleged injuries.
Manziel told TMZ Sports on Thursday he did not hit Crowley or threaten to kill her or himself, insisting the allegations “didn’t happen.”
“I’m completely stable,” Manziel told the website. “I’m safe and secure.”
Manziel said he has “great things coming ahead,” though he wouldn’t elaborate.
“I know I’ve been having fun, but I just need to get my body right,” he said. “I’m 100 percent committed to playing football.”
Even so, Manziel’s NFL future is increasingly in doubt after yet another off-field incident involving the former Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M and the second in less than a year resulting from claims of domestic abuse by Crowley.
Charges also were not filed in the first incident with Crowley in Avon, Ohio, last October, but Manziel’s fate with the fed-up Browns already appears certain.
Team sources say Manziel will be released March 9, which is as soon as allowed under NFL rules. Browns vice president Sashi Brown all but publicly confirmed that decision in a statement Tuesday, saying Manziel’s “continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization.”
Speculation continues to run rampant in league circles that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones plans to sign Manziel as soon as Cleveland releases the former first-round pick, though this latest incident could put a serious damper on that possibility.
Not only has the NFL put an emphasis on addressing its domestic-violence issues, but Dallas already has one player on its roster — defensive end Greg Hardy — who was accused of battering an ex-girlfriend before reportedly reaching a confidential settlement with her.
Manziel, who spent more than a month in rehab for unspecified substance-abuse problems last year, also faces the possibility of an NFL suspension for his litany of off-field incidents.
A league spokesman confirmed Thursday the NFL is investigating the latest accusations against Manziel.