Johnny Manziel fires back at John Mateer’s viral church comment

After Saturday’s win over Auburn, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer clarified he was different than Johnny Manziel after a question about similar nicknames the two now share, and it didn’t take long for Manziel to clap back.

Between the way he plays and a viral false sports gambling accusation, fans have started calling Mateer, “Money Mateer,” and he was asked about the nickname postgame on Saturday.

“I like it,” Mateer said then. “I don’t want to do the ‘Money Manziel’ (celebration) like (Manziel). Me and him are probably kind of different people. He’s awesome, but his stories are a little different than mine. Shoutout. 

“But it’s cool to have a nickname, to have something that people can root for. It’s awesome, and I’m honored to have that.”

Johnny Manziel responds to Oklahoma QB's viral comment

Mateer’s actual answer didn’t get much attention, but on his way out, SoonerScoop’s Eddie Radosevich asked Mateer to better explain the differences between him and Manziel, and Mateer’s response immediately went viral.

“I’m going to church in the morning,” Mateer said, referencing Manziel’s famous wild behavior off the field. 

Late Saturday night, Manziel was on Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson’s “Night Cap” podcast, where Sharpe asked Manziel about Mateer’s comment.

Manziel first clarified he grew up going to church every Sunday with his family.

“My, dawg, enjoy church in the morning,” Manziel said. “I don’t take anything that he said as a slight. I get he’s trying to be funny. He is what he is. Continue to keep playing well, young fella, and all is well. Oklahoma has a good team right now, first time being 4-0 for them in a while.”

Manziel’s more famous nickname was “Johnny Football” after he took college football by storm in 2012 as Texas A&M's freshman quarterback. He became the first freshman to ever win the Heisman Trophy that season and was eventually a first-round NFL Draft pick before becoming a bust because of off-the-field issues.

Mateer has emerged as the Heisman favorite early this season as a dual-threat QB in the SEC like Manziel.

“I don’t look at anything like that that’s said anymore and take it as a slight or take it in any kind of way,” Manziel said. “I’m still able to sit here over a decade later and be able to have some love shown toward me, still be talked about a little bit in these college football ranks. I guarantee you anybody that’s playing college football right now would love to have the experience, the career and what I did on the field in college football.

“He is playing at a very high level right now. He is the leader of a great school with a great program.”

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