The Sports Xchange

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel worked on his mechanics with Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden as a tutor just days before training camp gets started.

Manziel, in his second NFL season, spent part of the past week working with the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders head coach in Tampa, Fla., concentrating on film study and throwing mechanics, according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com.

Gruden is an analyst for ESPN’s Monday Night Football, and part of his pre-draft work includes working with incoming NFL quarterbacks on the network’s “Gruden’s QB Camp.”

Gruden was not available for an interview, but ESPN acknowledged through a statement that “Manziel’s camp reached out to Jon to see if he could assist for a couple of days.”

Manziel won the Heisman Trophy at Texas A&M in 2012 and was Cleveland’s first-round draft pick last year, but his off-field behavior led to a lot of criticism.

Manziel has taken steps to clean up his life this offseason, putting a disastrous rookie season behind him after spending 10 weeks in a rehab center earlier this year.

Manziel started two games and completed 18 of 35 passes for 175 yards, and added nine rushes for 29 yards last season. He was placed on injured reserve after injuring his hamstring in Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers.

Browns quarterbacks report to camp on Monday, with the first full-team practice set for Thursday.

Josh McCown, 35, opens camp as the firm starter. The 13-year NFL veteran signed a three-year contract with the Browns worth $14 million, with $5.25 million due in 2015.

Manziel is expected to be the backup, competing with Thad Lewis and Connor Shaw during camp.