Emmitt Smith Says Manziel Living 'Short Career Lifestyle'
DALLAS (105.3 THE FAN) -- Johnny Manziel has yet to accomplish anything at the NFL level. Emmitt Smith accomplished plenty.
The former Dallas Cowboys and Hall of Fame running back was asked his opinion of Manziel's perceived lifestyle. What would he tell the rookie QB?
"First, let's recognize -- Johnny is young. I was young and dumb myself at one point in time," said Smith to Shan & RJ on 105.3 The Fan. "But maturity itself, and maturing as a professional athlete, is something that is required of every pro football player. I think right now Johnny Manziel is going to get a glimpse of what negative press can do for you. A lot of people think negative press is good press -- or any press is good press. It's not."
Fair or not, images have surfaced on social media of Manziel partying in Vegas, drinking from champagne bottles at bars, and using a stack of money as a phone.
Smith says that Manziel will ultimately have a decision to make: how can he maximize his true potential in every aspect of his life?
"That's on the field, off the football field, having the power to influence others at the same time in a positive direction," said Smith. "That only takes time and it takes maturity."
Emmitt Smith on The Fan
Smith is no stranger to the "party lifestyle", as numerous accounts suggest that the 90's Cowboys had a wild side -- or at least a few wild teammates.
While Smith and his teammates weren't subjected to the intense scrutiny associated with social media, Smith, a 15-year veteran, doesn't believe the lifestyle lends itself to a prolonged NFL career.
"That lifestyle is going to be a short lifestyle -- a short career lifestyle -- if he continues that," said Smith. "As we used to say, you can't keep burning the candle at both ends of the stick. The candle gets small fairly quick. Johnny is going to have to figure it out."
"Hopefully he's not doing anything to hurt himself outside of drinking -- which is going to harm his body and harm his performance anyway. At the end of the day, he's going to have to learn to manage those things."
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