Browns' Joe Thomas thinks Johnny Manziel 'lost a lot of trust last year'

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel didn't make the best first impression on his teammates as a rookie. 

"I think he's going to have to prove to the team that football is important and being the man, being the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, is important, it is his goal, his single goal in his life," Thomas said.

Here's more from Thomas:

You know, I think he lost probably a lot of trust among the guys on the team last year by the way he handled himself once he became the starter. And I think he had a lot of time to reflect, I'm guessing, after the season was over by the comments he made in the media and by his actions, checking himself into rehab. ... I think those were really positive steps.

I'm hoping when we comes back in April we see a new Johnny and everybody's blown away with his commitment. And I think he's got the talent, so it's just a matter of if he commits himself to it, we can have a really good quarterback on our hands.

Thomas is an eight-time Pro Bowler at left tackle and one of the most respected players on the Browns, so losing his trust isn't ideal for Manziel. 

The second-year pivot is expected to be released from rehab and join his team for workouts in late April. 

Manziel's reputation for losing focus off the field preceded him when he arrived in Cleveland, and he didn't do anything to dispel those concerns in 2014. He struggled to learn the playbook and failed to make the most of his limited opportunities. 

That, combined with his stint in rehab, forced the Browns to bring in veteran Josh McCown this offseason. If Manziel wants to claim the starting job this year, he'll need to prove he's a pro both on and off the field.