Johnny Manziel's lawyer is drawing fire after saying he hopes "everyone will kiss and make up" in reference to the former NFL quarterback's assault case involving his ex-girlfriend.
The lawyer, Bob Hinton, made the comment after telling reporters that Manziel will plead not guilty to the charges, at which time he added that that preferred outcome is that "everyone will kiss and make up."
"It’s a shame that even his own lawyer doesn’t seem to recognize the seriousness of the situation,"
USA Today's Nina Mandell wrote for the publication's For the Win blog.
The former Cleveland Browns quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M University was indicted last month after ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley said he hit her so hard that she temporarily lost hearing in one ear and threatened to kill her in January.
On Thursday, Dallas County criminal court Judge Roberto Canas ordered Manziel to cease any contact with Crowley and banned him from possessing firearms as a condition of his $1,500 bail,
the Star-Telegram reported.
Another lawyer representing Manziel attempted to smooth over Hinton's "kiss and make up" statement.
“Mr. Hinton certainly misspoke and his comment does not reflect either the feelings of Mr. Manziel or his legal team. I assure you we all recognize the seriousness of the situation,” Jim Darnell said,
according to NBC Sports.
Manziel has also been criticized as insensitive this week after he was seen smirking in a mugshot after he turned himself in to police on Wednesday. He later joking about it on Twitter,
the New York Daily News reported.
In a since-deleted tweet, Manziel said, "Just thankful I had a shirt this time," a comment referring to a 2012 arrest photo in which he appeared shirtless while being booked on charges of carrying a fake ID and fighting.
Many Twitter users spoke out against Hinton's ill-timed joke.
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