After months of seemingly endless discussion surrounding him, Johnny Manziel has been relatively quiet during the NFL's regular season. No questionable weekend outings or controversial Twitter posts or sideline spats.

And the Browns, who are 4-3 and on their way to one of their best seasons in recent years, are surely thankful for Manziel's disciplined approach. As it turns out, Cleveland may have the NBA's best player to thank for Manziel's team-first attitude.

Manziel says LeBron James has been watching over him and has even invited him to his house to unwind.

"He's done a good job, which I'm thankful for, of kind of checking in on me, making sure things are good," Manziel told ESPN. "I've gone out to his house a couple of times and gotten the chance to kind of get away and relax."

Life can be hard for a rookie in the NFL, but Manziel isn't your ordinary newcomer. Ever since he won the Heisman Trophy in 2012 as a redshirt freshman, Manziel has lived under a microscope of media attention. Photos and videos of him have surfaced from all sorts of events and parties, and he was the subject of extraordinary attention leading up to the NFL draft.

Manziel's preseason performance landed him in the headlines again, and the Browns and their fans may have been worried that their team's backup quarterback would overshadow what went on on the field.

But, perhaps because of James' oversight, Manziel has kept his behavior in check. He's only attempted one pass this year and hasn't played in a game since Aug. 21, but Manziel has been careful not to voice his displeasure or publicly challenge the team's coaching staff.

"There's been enough drama around me and my life for a couple of years now," Manziel said. "For me, I know whenever camp was over, when we got into the roles of who was going to play what role, Brian was named the starter, I was named the backup. Now I need to play my role of being the backup and that's that."

Manziel and James have been close for some time, and Manziel has a marketing deal with James' friends and partners LRMR and Maverick Carter. James was the first person to have a Johnny Manziel Browns jersey, and he was on hand to see the Browns' take down the Raiders on Sunday.


Now it's Manziel's turn to catch one of James' games. Manziel will be in attendance Thursday when James and the Cavaliers open the NBA's regular season against the New York Knicks.

NBA Hall Of Famers With Titles For Two Teams

 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem's first title came with Milwaukee in 1971 as he and Oscar Robertson guided the Bucks to the only championship in franchise history.

 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

After being traded to the Lakers, Kareem collected titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988.

 

Wilt Chamberlain

In 1966-67, Chamberlain averaged 24.1 points and 24.2 rebounds to lead the 76ers to a 68-13 regular-season record and the NBA championship.

 

Wilt Chamberlain

After being traded to the Lakers, Wilt lost his first two Finals appearance, to Celtics in 1969 and the Knicks in 1970. But in 1972, Chamberlain and Lakers capped a season that included a 33-game winning streak and a 69-12 record by wiping out the Knicks in the Finals.

 

Jamaal Wilkes

Wilkes won NBA rookie of the year in 1975 when he and Rick Barry helped the Warriors win the title, sweeping the Bullets in the Finals.

 

Jamaal Wilkes

Wilkes then became the part of three title teams with the Lakers in 1980, 1982 and 1985.

 

Bill Walton

Walton was the catalyst to Portland's 1977 NBA championship team. In the clinching Game 6 against the 76ers, Walton had 20 points, 23 rebounds, 7 assists and 8 blocks.

 

Bill Walton

Injuries derailed his career, but Walton earned the NBA's Sixth Man Award in 1986 in helping the Celtics win the third and final championship of the Larry Bird era.

 

Dennis Johnson

Johnson was NBA Finals MVP in 1979 when the Seattle SuperSonics won the only championship in franchise history.

 

Dennis Johnson

The Celtics acquired Johnson to help contain 76ers guard Andrew Toney, who had earned the nickname The Boston Strangler. Johnson helped the Celtics win titles in 1984 and 1986.

 

Dennis Rodman

Rodman was a key reserve on Detroit's championship teams in 1989 and 1990.

 

Dennis Rodman

Then he replaced Horace Grant as the starting power forward on the Bulls and was a part of Michael Jordan's second three-peat.

 

Robert Parish

The Chief was the center of Boston's three title teams in the Bird era.

 

Robert Parish

He picked up one more ring as a reserve on the Bulls' 1997 championship team.

 

Slater Martin

Martin was part of the George Mikan-led Lakers that won four NBA titles in the early 50s.

 

Slater Martin

He was then a member of the St. Louis Hawks in 1958 when they beat the Celtics in the Finals for the franchise's lone championship.

 

Arnie Risen

Risen is No. 19 in the picture above of the Celtics' 1957 NBA championship team. It was the first in franchise history. Risen also won in 1951 with the Rochester Royals.

 

Clyde Lovellette

Lovellette is usually known for being the answer to this trivia question: Who was the first player to win an NCAA title, an Olympic gold medal and an NBA championship? Lovellette won three NBA rings, with the Lakers (1954) and Celtics (1963, 1964).

 

Shaquille O'Neal

Technically, Shaq is not part of the group yet, because he doesn't become eligible for Hall of Fame induction until 2017, but that's merely a formality. O'Neal led the Lakers to a three-peat in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

 

Shaquille O'Neal

After being traded to Miami, Shaq helped Dwyane Wade and the Heat earn their first title in 2006.

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