Cleveland Browns

Stephen A. Smith just UNLOADED on Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon -- saying the letter he directed at Stephen, Charles Barkley and Cris Carter is "pathetic," "small minded" and "ignorant."

As we previously reported, Gordon ripped the media members -- claiming they were out of line for personal comments directed at him in the wake of his NFL and legal troubles. He demanded a retraction.

But Smith just appeared on ESPN Cleveland Radio and tore Gordon (and his letter) apart -- saying, "I'm sad for him. It's pretty pathetic ... the fact of the matter is that it's his actions that got him to this point."

Smith goes on ... "What he's not realizing is that we're not speaking about you as an individual, we're speaking about what you represent" -- a black man who came from poverty and made it to the NFL.

"So for you to be blowing these kind of opportunities not just speaks to you but it speaks to an abundance of individuals out in this world, particularly those from the African-American community that could possibly find themselves in this position but somehow someway blow it."

"That's what we say when we say 'we care' ... when we say we're disgusted with you."

"So the fact that [Josh] took the liberty to write this letter ... just also at the same time heightens your level of ignorance, because you're not getting the big picture."

They say when God closes a door, he opens a window -- and for Josh Gordon, that door is being an NFL star receiver ... but the window is selling Fords in Randolph, Ohio.

Gordon is facing a possible one-year suspension for allegedly failing another drug and alcohol test.

But TMZ Sports has learned he's already got a plan B, if he wants it -- his old job hawking cars and SUVs for Sarchione Auto Group is once again available. If you remember, Gordon worked there in 2014 during his 10 game suspension ... and Senior Sales Associate Mike Sabatine says the dealership would love to have him back.

Despite Josh's repeated troubles with pot and booze -- Sabatine says he never saw Josh drink or smoke, and says the guy he knew busted his ass on the job "just like the rest of us."

Johnny Manziel was attacked with drinks at a Houston nightclub this weekend ... after the Cleveland Browns QB got into it with a group of hecklers ... TMZ Sports has learned.

It all went down at Dekan nightclub in Houston late Sunday night -- Manziel arrived with some friends looking to have a good time when things got chippy.

We spoke with J.R. from Sticky Promotions -- who was with Johnny that night -- and he tells us people were shouting at Manziel and aggressively trying to take pics.

At one point, a frustrated Manziel flipped off one of the hecklers -- and that's when J.R. says the drinks started to fly.

"I ducked and I looked at Johnny and we grabbed security and they ran us out of there," J.R. says.

We're told Johnny and some members of his crew were splashed with drinks -- so they went back to their hotel room to change.

J.R. says he spoke with club security -- who told him the drink-throwers were booted from the joint -- so Johnny and his posse decided to return to the club.

Once they got back inside -- with Manziel wearing a new shirt -- we're told Johnny partied without incident for the rest of the night and had a great time.

We spoke to Houston PD -- and we're told cops were never contacted about the incident.

Johnny Manziel clearly does not think he's got a drinking problem ... 'cause the Cleveland Browns QB was chugging champagne right from the bottle in Miami on Wednesday.

Manziel and his girlfriend Colleen Crowley were sitting poolside at a Miami hotel ... sippin' away under the sun on Veuve Clicquot Rose'.

At one point, someone handed Johnny what appears to be a mixed drink -- and he took that down too.

Interesting move ... considering he's been under fire for reportedly missing an official team treatment session following a night of hard-partying.

In fact, ESPN's Skip Bayless went on the air and said he's convinced Manziel is an alcoholic after speaking with several people in the Browns organization.

Johnny Manziel hasn't lost the support of his teammates ... so says a Cleveland Browns player who tells TMZ Sports, "most guys on this team want him to be the one leading us next year."

The player -- who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity -- says everyone knows Johnny made mistakes ... but most teammates are chalking it up to immaturity.

"He's still learning, He's still a rookie. He needs more time to figure out life at the next level."

The player adds, "Johnny hasn't been a bad teammate" ... and several Browns believe JM's screw-ups have been blown out of proportion by the media because he's so famous.

"He has to live his life. As long as next year we compete for the playoffs, guys in this locker room will support him in his maturation process."

Multiple independent witnesses tell TMZ Sports ... they each spotted Johnny Manziel partying well past midnight at a Cleveland bar on Friday ... just hours before he missed a team treatment session.

Our sources -- and they're pretty solid -- all say Manziel was hanging out and drinking at Barley House in Cleveland with a small party (3 to 4 other people) and didn't leave until 1:30 AM on Saturday morning.

We're told ... Johnny's group was seated in a "secluded VIP-kind of area" ... and sipped on vodka and champagne -- racking up a bill close to $1,000.

One source snapped a photo ... and though it's not the greatest quality ... it sure does look a lot like Johnny Football. The meta-data on the pic says it was shot at 1:21 AM on Saturday morning.

Manziel spoke to the media on Monday and denied reports that he "threw a party" that night -- but it seems like the 22-year-old is just arguing semantics at this point.

ESPN star Skip Bayless just unloaded on Johnny Manziel ... claiming he's spoken with several people close to the Browns QB and he is convinced Johnny is an alcoholic and a liar.

Bayless made the comments on "First Take" -- telling Stephen A. Smith he's spoken with many people "in and around the Cleveland Browns" organization and is convinced the 22-year-old has a serious drinking problem.

Skip's comments come in the wake of media reports that Johnny skipped a team treatment session on Saturday following a raging party on Friday night.

Bayless expanded ... saying, "I believe that even [Johnny's] parents are fed up to the point that they believe he needs to get some help."

Skip says his sources have told him Johnny has been lying to team executives, coaches and teammates -- and they're sick of it.

Cleveland Browns linebacker Zac Diles is officially in the fashion game -- and his company is selling an Italian cashmere baseball cap ... FOR $1,200 EACH!!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... Diles is a part owner of Melin ... a company that specializes in high-end designer headwear.

The company uses everything from antique metals to genuine pony hair to pimp out their products -- with the top item, the $1,200 hat, boasting real ostrich leather.

We spoke with Diles who tells us ... his teammates have been incredibly supportive -- with guys like Johnny Manziel, Joe Haden and Donte Whitner rockin' various items.

"It's always great to see guys in the locker room supporting."

The Heisman Fraternity always sticks together ... mostly ... so says football legend Archie Griffin who tells TMZ Sports there's a good reason he hopes Johnny Manziel racks up a big "L" this weekend.

The 2-time Heisman Trophy winner (the only man to ever win twice) was out in NYC yesterday -- and while he wouldn't reveal his favorite for this year's statue, he says all 3 finalists belong at the ceremony.

But when we started talking about Johnny Football -- who won the Heisman during his freshman season at Texas A&M -- Griffin reminded us why he'll be rooting for the other team.

Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer is FURIOUS with ESPN -- telling TMZ Sports why he believes the network "stole" his exclusive story about Johnny Manziel.

Glazer's beef is all over his report about Manziel getting the starting QB job in Cleveland -- news Jay says he BROKE on Dec. 9th.

Glazer claims ESPN posted the same exact story AFTER he put it up ... but didn't give him credit. Instead, J.G. says the network based the story on unnamed "sources."

When we saw Jay at The Grove in L.A. yesterday, he explained that he's pissed because breaking exclusive stories isn't a hobby, it's his job -- "That's how I provide for my kid."

"In life, you don't steal," Glazer says ... "don't be a thief."

They're still in the playoff race (technically), so Cleveland Browns fans need to QUIT THEIR BITCHIN' about the QB situation ... so says Billy Bob Thornton.

Billy Bob -- a huge Colts fan -- was leaving LAX yesterday after Indianapolis beat up on the Brownies ... when we asked if it was time to swap out Hoyer for Johnny Manziel.

Thornton essentially told us to RELAX when it comes to Johnny Football -- "He'll get in there one of these days."

But the best part ... "If I was a Browns fan and I had the record they have right now, I'd just be happy. you know? They're doing OK."

Several Cleveland Browns superstars rallied around their teammate Joe Haden to help him open his new sneaker shop -- from Josh Gordon to Johnny Manziel ... and TMZ Sports has the pics.

As we previously reported, Haden opened "The Restock" in Cleveland last weekend ... a store that specializes in rare sneakers.

A bunch of the Browns showed up when Joe opened the doors ... including Josh Gordon, Donte Whitner and Andrew Hawkins. Cleveland Cavs star Tristan Thompson was also on hand.

And we're told the guys weren't just there to browse -- Josh picked up 3 pairs of Jordans ... so did Tristan Thompson. Hawkins ponied up for a pair of Balenciagas ... which ain't cheap.

Other Browns teammates donated signed jerseys to help decorate the store -- including Johnny Manziel, Brian Hoyer, Phil Taylor and more.

Apparently, LeBron and Drake didn't campaign hard enough ... because Johnny Manziel will NOT start for the Cleveland Browns this weekend ... so says Jay Glazer.

The "NFL on Fox" star says, "The Manziel Era is NOT beginning in Cleveland yet as Brian Hoyer has been informed he will start this weekend vs Indy."

LeBron had told the media his friend Manziel was "ready" to take over if called upon. And after his eyebrow-raising performance last week, it seemed Johnny time was gonna get the nod -- including Drake who flashed the money sign to support his BFF.

Guess he'll just have to wait.

Glazer adds, "Hoyer had widespread support inside the locker room. No brainer according to players in there."

Drake wants Johnny Manziel to start in Cleveland this weekend.

How do we know? He told us ... with his hands.

The rapper was leaving Hakkasan restaurant in Beverly Hills Monday when we asked about the QB controversy in Cleveland -- Manziel or Hoyer?

Drake flashed the money sign. Duh.

Of course, Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine says he won't announce the starters until later this week ... but it feels like Manziel's got the edge ... especially with LeBron telling the media he's "ready to go."

The man who claims he was attacked by Johnny Manziel and his "entourage" last week says he's still in pain from the alleged hotel beatdown ... and says he's got pics to prove it.

TMZ Sports spoke with Chris Gonos ... who claims his left elbow was jacked up by Johnny's crew during a fight at The 9 hotel in Cleveland late Friday night.

Gonos says the picture shows severe swelling and a nasty bruise -- but claims he also suffered a swollen lip and and injuries to his eye.

Gonos says he's not sure who hit him -- but he's confident the assailant was part of Johnny's crew.

Police are investigating the incident ... but so far, no arrests have been made.

As for Johnny, he tells a very different story ... saying he was "accosted by a very aggressive man and his associates" at the hotel that night.

Johnny Manziel is painting a completely different picture of the alleged fight that he was involved in over the weekend ... instead claiming he was the victim of an aggressive fan.

Manziel who is being accused of taking part in the beatdown of a fan who claims he was just trying to shake his hand -- said through his agent on Monday that there was no "entourage" with Manziel on the night in question.

Instead, Manziel -- through his agent, Erik Burkhardt -- claims he and his roommate were returning from dinner with Johnny's mom when they were "accosted by a very aggressive man and his associates."

Manziel claims he let Browns management know about the incident "immediately."

The accuser, Chris Gonos, previously told TMZ Sports he was simply trying to shake Manziel's hand when Johnny Football's entourage jumped him.