Former Browns GM says he 'has to own' selection of Johnny Manziel

Former Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer gave some insight into the decision to draft troubled quarterback Johnny Manziel in the first round of the 2014 draft on Monday.

While he says the buck stops with him on the pick, he can't be held fully responsible with so many people involved in the draft process. It's long been rumored that owner Jimmy Haslam and others in the organization pushed hard to take the Heisman Trophy winner after trading back into the first round.

"There are very few decisions made in anybody's draft in a vacuum," Farmer said on CBS Sports Radio. "The GM very, very, very rarely says 'Hey, I'm taking this guy and there's nothing anybody else can say about it.' The head coach doesn't do it, the owner doesn't do it. In that case, I would tell you that there were a lot of conversations that happened and the selection was made."

But ultimately when a player fails as spectacularly on and off the field as Manziel has, the GM will be held responsible for allowing the situation to take place.

"It's the reality of the National Football League that whoever gets selected, that name is going to get attributed to the general manager, whether he selected that guy or not. So for good, worse, better, doesn't really matter, Johnny Manziel is mine and I have to own it."

With Manziel facing indictment on assault charges after being cut by the Browns after two seasons, the choice to draft him may be what prevents Farmer from getting another chance as a GM.