Report: Browns to release Manziel in March

Johnny Manziel's time with the Cleveland Browns appears to be coming to a close.

Manziel is set to be released by the Browns at the start of the new league year on March 9, a source told Pat McManamon of ESPN.

The team is waiting until then to part ways with Manziel because of salary cap issues, reports McManamon.

Releasing Manziel prior to that date would incur a cap hit of $4.6 million, which the Browns currently don't have the space to take on.

The report comes on the heels of a statement from the Browns that indicated they are indeed intending to part ways with the former first-round pick.

Executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown had this to say about Manziel after his latest incident last Saturday in Texas that involved an alleged dispute between him and a woman who claimed to be his ex-girlfriend:

We've been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field. Johnny's continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules. We will have no further comment at this time.

Manziel appears to have few supporters left in Cleveland, and head coach Hue Jackson has been clear that he doesn't view Manziel as a franchise quarterback at present, also expressing disappointment in his latest off-field incident.