Joel Bitonio Reflects on Career and Playful Jabs at Johnny Manziel During Retirement Announcement

On Tuesday, veteran offensive lineman Joel Bitonio officially announced his retirement after an impressive 12-year career, all spent with the Cleveland Browns. During a press conference, Bitonio shared insights from his time in the league, highlighting lessons learned from various teammates and mentors.

Among those he mentioned was Johnny Manziel, who was drafted the same year as Bitonio and with whom he shared a room early in their careers. "I learned some things not to do from him," Bitonio remarked, adding a humorous tone to a situation that was far from amusing at the time. Manziel, a first-round pick, struggled during his brief tenure with the Browns, starting just eight games before being released after two seasons.

In contrast, Bitonio, selected in the second round of the 2014 draft, enjoyed a stellar career, participating in 178 regular-season games and earning seven Pro Bowl selections. His accolades include three years as a second-team All-Pro and two as a first-team All-Pro, marking a significant and successful journey in the NFL.