The NFL just became more of a thrill ride the moment “Johnny Football’’ decided Wednesday to enter May 8-10 draft.
“After long discussions with my family, friends, teammates, and coaches, I have decided to make myself available for the 2014 NFL draft,” Johnny Manziel said in a letter posted online by Texas A&M University. “The decision was not an easy one, but we all felt this was the right time to make the next step toward a professional career.”
Opinions vary on how good an NFL quarterback Manziel will be as he leaves Texas A&M after his sophomore season and as the Heisman Trophy winner as a freshman, but there is one common belief about him: His rare talent and ability to win games.
Manziel threw for 7,820 yards and 63 touchdowns and while rushed for 2,169 yards and 30 more TDs during his electric two-year career at Texas A&M. He became the first freshman to win the Heisman in 2012, when he set an SEC record for total offense by accounting for 5,116 yards. In his sophomore year, Manziel set a Texas A&M record for passing yards (4,114) and finished 11 yards shy of becoming the first sophomore to account for 10,000 career yards.
In his college finale, Manziel delivered one final dramatic performance, completing 30-of-38 passes for 382 yards and four TDs and rushing for 73 yards and another TD to lead Texas A&M to a 52-48 Chick-fil-A Bowl victory against Duke, which had a 21-point lead at the half.
“They should call him ‘Johnny Magic Man,’ instead of ‘Johnny Football’ with the way he gets things done,’’ Gil Brandt, a longtime NFL personnel guru who now is a SiriusXM NFL Radio host, told The Post on Wednesday.
There are some quarterback-starved franchises who own four of the top five picks in the draft — the Texans, Jaguars, Browns and Raiders — and the consensus among those in the know, including Brandt, is Manziel is a no-brainer top-five pick.
“If I were drafting, I would make him a top-five pick, because I know what he can do,’’ Brandt said.
Brandt recalled an evaluation by a college assistant coach who was scouting Manziel in high school.
“[The coach said], ‘He’s got to stretch to be 6-foot. He’s got to turn up the heat to run a 4.5 and he doesn’t throw the prettiest spiral, but all he does is win.’ ’’
That was proven at Texas A&M, a program Manziel carried into prominence the last two years.
“He’s a guy that everybody wants to say he can’t do it,’’ Brandt said. “The guy took a football team at Texas A&M that was average at best and he transformed the program.’’
Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer said he does not have any issues with Manziel’s character, having spent time with him at a football camp last year, nor is he concerned about his durability.
“Watching his game tape, the only quarterback I can compare him to from an instinct standpoint is Brett Favre,’’ Dilfer said. “Johnny Manziel has eyes in the back of his head. He flat-out sees stuff that other people don’t see and that’s one of the reasons why he’s special.’’
Nevertheless, two ESPN NFL analysts who are former players raised questions about how Manziel will be greeted by veteran players.
“The question that the players are going to ask themselves is: Is this a ‘me’ guy? Is he an ‘I’ quarterback? Is he going to come in and be part of a team concept?’’ Jerome Bettis said. “We saw some of the things that happened since he won the Heisman Trophy, and it’s not been all good from a team concept. The players will ask themselves ‘Is he a guy I want to follow?’ ’’
Mark Schlereth said when Manziel walks into an NFL locker room, the veteran players won’t “give a rip’’ what he did at Texas A&M.
“Just because you signed as a first-round draft choice and because you have built up this cachet in the outside world of college football, it entitles you to nothing when you walk into an NFL locker room,’’ Schlereth said. “You better not be coming in thinking you are a brand. You better come in thinking you are a pro because that’s what we want in a NFL locker room.”
Mel Kiper, ESPN’s draft analyst, said he expects Manziel to be a top-five-to-eight pick, and he thinks much will depend on the impression he gives teams at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
He called Manziel the “wildcard’’ of the draft at the quarterback position, where there are several other top-rated players, including Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, UCF’s Blake Bortles and Fresno State’s Derek Carr.
Kiper compared Manziel to former Vikings great Fran Tarkenton, who later took to Twitter to praise Manziel.
Tarkenton’s first tweet read: “Heard @MelKiperESPN on @sportscenter comparing @jmanziel to me. I agree- #Manziel is a football savant. Can’t teach what he does. #TAMU’’
Then he added: “Would love to see Johnny Manziel in a @Vikings uniform. This guy is the real deal. He will be a big time player on Sundays. #NFL @jmanziel2’’