CLEVELAND — Now, he's Johnny Hoops.
Johnny Manziel has been "drafted" by the Harlem Globetrotters, who picked the Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback on Tuesday as part of their eighth annual selection of world-class athletes. Manziel has previously been drafted by San Diego Padres, who used one of their late picks on the former Heisman Trophy winner. He was taken in the first round by the Browns in May.
"Sweet Lou" Dunbar, the Globetrotters' director of player called Manziel, who made electrifying plays at Texas A&M, "a fantastic athlete that knows how to be entertaining. 'Johnny Basketball' has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"
Dunbar said the Globetrotters like to "think outside the box with our draft." The basketball ambassadors also selected former U.S. soccer star Landon Donovan, who was left off this year's World Cup roster.