7 quarterbacks who partied just as hard as Johnny Manziel

Johnny Manziel left for Las Vegas roughly a week ago, and then when the pictures of a young, rich quarterback enjoying the company of attractive women (THE HORROR!) began to surface through the Internet’s connecting tubes, two responses followed:

• Response 1: Meh
• Response 2: “What an immature little scumbag who has no future in the league. He is not permitted to enjoy himself during his leisurely pursuits removed from football.”

The latter response really existed, and only now on Friday is the blinding anger -- mainly from balding men -- beginning to die down. NFL Network devoted four entire minutes to wondering if Manziel made the right decision by going to Vegas on a long weekend, a segment in which the words “I know why he’s behind Brian Hoyer, he’s worrying about Vegas!” were actually said.

Brady Quinn was also unearthed to tell us about why Manziel should stay out of Vegas (it’s a blue collar town, you see), and Rich Gannon tisk tisked by saying the Cleveland Browns first rounder and savior is “better off laying low”.

Manziel responded by, with impressive politeness and eloquent wording, telling everyone to screw off, and saying that he can be dedicated to football and passionate about the game while still having a life away from it -- any life he wants. Those who are critical of Manziel because of his Vegas pool party (or any other time he’s out in public) won’t be satisfied unless he locks himself in a dark room with his playbook, the appropriate food rations, and a pee cup.

To celebrate the fact that all humans are different (including quarterbacks) and they enjoy being at an establishment for a good time, though maybe not a long time, here are a few other QBs who choose to have a personality.

Oddly, Matthew Stafford also likes to be around girls in bikinis

Flanked by his girlfriend (now fiance), this was taken during the summer before Matthew Stafford’s rookie year. Note the lack of a playbook.

Jay Cutler looks...tired

There are so very few times in this life when Jay Cutler cares about what anyone not named Jay Cutler thinks of Jay Cutler.

Mark Sanchez enjoys the no pants dance

Hey, at least Manziel kept his pants on. He kept his pants on, right?

Eli Manning is a karaoke fiend

He’s surely singing “Don’t Stop Believing” here. Or maybe he’s more of a “Livin’ On a Prayer” guy?

DJ Romo

Oh and that’s not all. Years late Romo was also caught on a boat with a bunch of evil bikini temptresses (actually it was during a honeymoon party with friends...BUT STILL).

Colin Kaepernick somehow overcame this career setback

Those pictures were taken sometime before the 2012 season. That’s also before Kaepernick replaced Alex Smith, before he led his team to the Super Bowl, and before he played in two straight NFC Championship games for a 49ers teams that’s now won 23 games over the past two seasons.

Somehow he’s found the will to overcome the darkness of his body shot past.

The king

Lastly, we arrive at a man who set the New York nightlife ablaze during a time when “twerk” meant "to work" in some regional dialects. Namath was a pioneer in that regard, but there’s little doubt the above commercial was the most significant obstacle standing in the way of his success.

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That’s only a handful, and it spans the spectrum of quarterbacks, ranging from horrible to elite. Their status at either end of those extremes -- or anywhere in between -- wasn’t altered by their lack of desire to spend every waking hour focussing on only their craft.

Remarkably, they were all able to be both a person, and a quarterback.