Johnny Manziel calls the way he treated LeBron James, Joe Thomas 'embarrassing'

Johnny Manziel still carries a lot of regret.

In an appearance on Shannon Sharpe's "Club Shay Shay" published Wednesday, the former NFL quarterback, who was known for his partying and played only two years in the league, reflected on letting many people down, including Skip Bayless, LeBron James and Drake.

He first addresses Bayless, who used to be a "First Take" co-host with the Hall of Fame tight end. Bayless was one of Manziel's biggest supporters and said he was going to be bigger than James, an NBA superstar who was back in his hometown with the Cleveland Cavaliers when Manziel was drafted by the Cleveland Browns as the No. 22 overall pick in 2014.

"I remember watching 'First Take' religiously and being able to see him come on there and ride for me when everything was going on," Manziel said. "I remember seeing the passion in his voice and the way he was animated when he would talk about me. So when I signed and I go to Cleveland and this you know, 'Johnny Manziel will be bigger than LeBron,' like okay, you got your clickbait, you got your headlines that week type of thing and it was never, ever going to be a reality."

One of the highlights of his Texas A&M career, which included a Heisman Trophy, was a five-touchdown performance against Duke in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, his last game as an Aggie before he declared for the NFL draft. Manziel pondered what would have happened if the outcome of that game were different.

"I almost wish to this day that we lost that game because I would have came back. So us having that legendary run against the bowl game is kind of like, I kinda wish we would have lost 'cause then I would have came back with a vengeance," he said. "I probably wouldn't have got drafted because I would have gotten in trouble. But it doesn't sit right with me certain things."

After going pro, the quarterback signed with Maverick Carter, James' longtime friend, to handle his business affairs.

"The thing that I realize now is the reason why they're probably still pissed at me to this day: They don't lose. They don't bet on anything that's not a sure thing," Manziel said. "And what I did and the way I carried myself and the way that I was in my time during Cleveland was pure and blatant disrespect to them giving me everything that I could have ever needed to be successful. So something that still to this day, I think now that we're talking about it, I haven't completely truly got over yet how I let them down."

The 31-year-old recalled how James would reach out inviting him to hang out. But Manziel wouldn't take him up on the offers because he was struggling with his mental health.

"I was so depressed for the first time in my life that even my biggest role model and inspiration in my life couldn't get me out of bed to come and hang out with them," he said. You know, when I went to the Cavs games, I went, I was in and I was out. I didn't really grasp and latch on to him in a way that I should have. And he tries to take me under his wing, right? And I'm just kind of nudging it away because of where my mental (state) is and being just fully depressed and where I was in my life. Is that excuse? Absolutely not. Because at the end of the day, the respect that I should have for them, giving me everything should trump all else."

Manziel names Hall of Fame tackle Joe Thomas as another person that's "embarrassing" to let down, saying the lineman at the time "is looking for somebody to come in and lead this team and then you get me."

He also names Drake, who shouted out the quarterback in his 2014 song "Draft Day," as someone he regrets not appreciating. Manziel frequently wore the rap star's OVO clothing brand and they developed a friendship.

"At that point in time I was so selfish that I was dragging everybody that was tied to me through the mud," Manziel said. "...I owe those people an apology. And hopefully one day down the line I'll be able to have the opportunity as a man to be able to look them in the eye and be able to do that."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Johnny Manziel regrets how he treated LeBron James