Johnny Football has a lot of growing up to do

I’ve now covered the Manning Passing Academy four times in my young journalistic career.

It’s so interesting how each particular camp holds a life and personality of its own.

One camp came while the NFL was embroiled in its lockout. All of the talk at that event obviously circled around whether or not the league would see game action in that upcoming year.

Another came after Peyton Manning was shipped to the Denver Broncos. That camp’s media angle was all about the elder Manning and whether or not he was healthy after his neck surgery that sidelined him for an entire season.

This time around, it was all about Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Johnny Football was front and center throughout the four days at 2013’s Manning Passing Academy – for better or worse.

Manziel’s appearance initially sparked the attention of local, statewide and national media because his comments were to be his first in a wild and crazy stretch of a few months for the college football star – a sizzling summer that has consisted of casino photos, Miami Heat courtside tickets and cryptic tweets expressing hatred toward College Station, Texas.

But with the camp gone and passed, eyes are still on Manziel – just now for a different reason.

Johnny Football left the Manning Passing Academy. Media reports say that he was tossed out of the event by Archie Manning for reporting to meetings late because of a hangover.

Manziel denies that allegation, but does admit his early exit was due to tardiness – which he said was due to “oversleeping.”

Either way, the message remains the same: Johnny Football doesn’t get it.

His fame will lead to his downfall.

He has a rude awakening coming to him in a brutal SEC.

When he is at his best, Manziel is one of the most fun players to watch in college football history. He can run. He can throw. And he’s in an offense that is absolutely perfect for his skillsets.

Texas A&M’s run last season was nothing short of magical. By the end of the season, I could make an argument that they were the best team in the entire country.

Don’t believe me? Ask national champion Alabama. The Aggies went into Tuscaloosa and defeated the Tide in late-season SEC action.

They followed that up with a thrashing of Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl.

As an LSU fan, my Tigers were one of just two lucky teams to defeat Manziel last year. I remember my feeling of pure exhaustion following the victory.

If I was tired just watching my team chase Manziel around, imagine the fatigue the team must have faced?

But since taking college football by storm as a freshman, Johnny Football’s train has been taken off the tracks.

College football’s darling has become one of its biggest problem children.

In the past seven months since winning the Heisman, Manziel’s fame has gone to his head.

It all started with the casino incident.

Manziel and his buddies posted photos on Twitter flashing cash at a casino – immediate red flag.

The quarterback is 20. Most states require people to be 21 to gamble.

It turns out that Manziel was at a casino in Oklahoma that allows gambling at 18.

But Manziel’s response to criticism from fans on social media was classless and brutal.

He lambasted his so-called “Twitter haters” at every chance, often slinging stones their way in a hateful manner.

A player often in the spotlight like Manziel needs to know better. That type of behavior shouldn’t happen.

But throughout the summer, the rock star tour has continued.

Manziel and his family played a pricey round at Pebble Beach in California – one of the nicest golf resorts in the country.

He has also scored courtside seats to a Miami Heat game – a ticket that holds a price tag in the thousands.

These things have caused the Manziel critics to wonder if he is being given luxurious benefits because of his fame – an allegation that would be an NCAA violation if true.

We’re not going to go that far.

But we are going to say that Johnny Football needs to focus a little more on football and a little less on being famous.

Manziel likes to always remind his critics that he is just 20. That is true.

Who am I to throw stones? I was wild and crazy as a 20-year-old, too.

But I was not a Heisman Trophy winner. My every move wasn’t tracked, traced, tweeted and retweeted.

His life is tracked and followed with every move.

And as long as his alleged debauchery continues, it will be chronicled.

So instead of being Johnny Football the celebrity, why don’t Manziel just focus on being Johnny Manziel – the Texas A&M sophomore quarterback?

Football earned the young man his fame – he’s a deserving, gifted athlete.

But the SEC is unforgiving and incredibly fierce.

If he’s not careful, the sport will also take his fame away.

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU and South Carolina are all pretty mean.

If not 100 percent focused, those schools can make anyone look shameful on the field – even the great Johnny Football.

It’s time to grow up, Mr. Manziel.

This time around the SEC schedule may not be so friendly.