Shame on Netflix for ‘awkward’ handling of Johnny Manziel’s suicide reveal: Ryan Leaf

Disgrace on Netflix.

That’s how all-time NFL draft bust and psychological well being advocate Ryan Leaf felt after watching Netflix’s “Untold: Johnny Football” documentary.

Leaf told Outkick’s “Hot Mic with Hutton and Withrow” that Netflix whiffed on its likelihood to deal with psychological well being in mild of Manziel revealing throughout the documentary his failed suicide attempt, as a substitute glossing over that admission.

“Netflix, that director, the producers on it, they did precisely what everyone has performed for therefore lengthy round psychological sickness and substance abuse – they stigmatized it and continued to do it,” Leaf stated. “They talked about it like (a) snippet after which simply didn’t deal with it once more the remainder of the way in which. It was simply so awkward to me.”

He added: “I used to be extremely disenchanted with Netflix and ‘Untold’ in what they may have performed or ought to have performed on this second.”

Leaf’s main grievance with the documentary facilities on its resolution to give attention to Johnny Soccer, Manziel’s nickname and persona throughout his Heisman Trophy-winning days with Texas A&M, as a substitute of Manziel’s plight.

Manziel lasted two NFL seasons and 14 complete video games with the Browns after being chosen twenty second total within the 2014 draft.

Whereas the “Johnny Soccer” period of Manziel’s life was definitely scandalous, Leaf noticed an opportunity to do one thing better as soon as Manziel admitted he thought of suicide.

Ryan Duffy, the director of the documentary, informed Outkick he was unaware that Manziel had thought of suicide earlier than interviewing the 30-year-old for this system.

“I put this on Netflix,” Leaf stated. “I might have beloved to speak to the director and say, ‘You could have performed everybody such a disservice.’ As soon as once more, individuals have taken benefit of Johnny Manziel.

“There have been no options, no addressing of bipolar analysis and the way he’s coping with it and the way he’s dwelling with it, round his substance abuse.’”

Leaf stated he didn’t know “what they had been attempting to realize” with the documentary and famous how Netflix has proven it will probably deal with psychological well being, as displayed within the “Untold: Breaking Level” documentary about Mardy Fish.

As an alternative, on this documentary, Leaf stated it was “misplaced.”

The previous No. 2 decide within the 1998 NFL Draft – drafted one spot behind Peyton Manning – famous that his NFL pals loved the tales about Johnny Soccer.

However Leaf, who lately stirred the web together with his summer transformation photos, noticed this as a missed alternative to give attention to “any individual who has a illness and must be handled.”

Leaf has met Manziel as soon as, however he talks to his father.

“I believe he is usually a beacon of hope to so many as a result of he was greater than life, greater than something I may accomplish when it comes to the way in which individuals acknowledge and know him,” Leaf stated of Manziel.

“And he may be that for individuals coping with psychological sickness, individuals coping with substance abuse, who’ve fallen to the very backside and gotten again up and made one thing of their lives … and possibly he’s simply not there but.”