Newly hired Browns coach Mike Pettine
said Manziel had the "it" factor he was looking for in a quarterback at the NFL Combine.
"When I evaluated all the quarterbacks it was the 'it' factor, personality and I thought his was at an extreme level, to the point where it really created 'Johnny Football'. The fact that he is all of those things to an amazing degree, competitive, passionate. He just finds a way."
While Pettine said the "it" factor led Cleveland to pursue Manziel,
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam reportedly said another form of divine intervention inspired him to target the 2012 Heisman winner -- none other than a homeless man.
"Here in Cleveland, everywhere I go, people know me," Haslam said in the report. "And I was out to dinner recently. And a homeless person was out on the street, looked up at me and said, 'Draft Manziel.' Just like that."