Johnny Manziel gets another chance to prove he belongs in the NFL

Johnny Manziel will start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. For the media, that is code red.

Fascination remains high for “Johnny Football”, the former Heisman Trophy winner, despite the fact that his abbreviated pro career is more “ugh” (five turnovers) than “wow!” (one touchdown pass).

What’s the attraction?

Is it his diminutive stature in a sport of giants? His outsized swagger?

His well-earned reputation as a party animal or his recent attempt to clean up his personal life and learn his job?

Is it that the Browns spent a first-round pick on him last year and they still dream?

Or is that he went No 22 overall, no one mistook him for a franchise-changer and he is a darling underdog again – the collegian who energised upstart Texas A&M in a victory over mighty Alabama?

All of the above?

Manziel gets his chance against the Tennessee Titans only because starter Josh McCown is recovering from a concussion. But if Manziel lights up the scoreboard, the media machine will go neon, and the debate over whether he can really play will roil again.

If he tanks, of course, he won’t disappear, because he is Johnny Football. But he will take another step back towards irrelevancy.

There are always fresh stories on the way – such as, for example, his counterpart with Tennessee, rookie Marcus Mariota, the new Heisman guy, who threw four touchdown passes in his professional debut last Sunday.

Even Mr Football will find out someday – if you are not making news, you are old news.