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Boomer: 'Nervous' Manziel Learning NFL Is A Different Beast

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Johnny Manziel needs to elevate his skills to meet his larger-than-life personality.

And -- like it or not -- that will take some time, according to WFAN co-host and CBS football analyst Boomer Esiason.

"It's obvious that he is a guy that is more pomp and circumstance than he is substance," Esiason said on CBS Sports Network's "NFL Monday QB." "He has to work this offseason on the fundamentals. He has to learn the game, learn his offense, learn how to read defense. Somehow he has to find the poise that it takes to be a pocket-passer in the NFL."

FLASHBACK: BOOMER BLASTS 'BABY' MANZIEL

Manziel had a brutal go of it Sunday in his debut as Cleveland's starting quarterback. The polarizing rookie looked lost at times in the Browns' 30-0 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing 10 of 18 for 80 yards and two interceptions.

"I think he should start next week," Esiason said of Manziel, who will indeed get another chance in Carolina. "The fact of the matter is, he was nervous. We all saw that and we've all had our first starts."

Esiason also threw two picks in his first NFL start for the Bengals in 1984. He went on to win the MVP award four years later.

"I think back to my rookie year," Esiason said. "I had four starts. I was basically a disaster, just like he was. But maybe not quite as bad."

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