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Report: Sean Payton has ‘taken an interest’ in Johnny Manziel

Jason Rowan
| March 23, 2017

Johnny Manziel remains in NFL limbo as he continues to stage his football comeback. But it appears his dedication to getting his life and career back on track has reportedly impressed one NFL head coach: The New Orleans Saints’ Sean Payton.

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport in a series of tweets Thursday morning reports Payton has taken a shine on Manziel. Rapoport reports that Payton and Manziel were seen meeting during Super Bowl week and notes the Saints and the unemployed quarterback may be a good fit.

Manziel, after a series of self-inflicted setbacks to his NFL career — each one seemingly more damaging than the last — seems to have turned himself around to some degree in recent weeks and months.

In January, Manziel cut open a vein in a series of tweets that included critical self-evaluations concerning how he’s conducted himself over the past few years.

And then in February, Manziel made it clear that all he wants is a second chance at the NFL.

Since then, Manziel has re-signed with former agent Erik Burkhardt and is said to be generating “real interest” among NFL teams, despite his considerable baggage.

All that aside, it certainly appears Manziel is committed to self-improvement in 2017 and leaving a history littered with missteps, mistakes and self-destructive behavior in the past.

Could the Saints be the team that frees Manziel from his pro football purgatory? One has to think the combination of Payton’s coaching pedigree and Drew  Brees’ experience, talent and professionalism would have a tremendous impact on the still-young, 24-year-old Manziel.