CLEVELAND -- Johnny Manziel is a prominent part of the Cleveland Browns' future plans at quarterback, coach Mike Pettine said Monday.
Pettine, who spoke with Manziel directly this week, said the team is "very much looking forward" to working on the field with Manziel later in the offseason. Manziel's message to his coach has been: "Don't judge me on my words; judge me on my actions."
"He's very much in our plans," said Pettine about Manziel, who spent 10 weeks in a rehab facility and returned to the team over the weekend. "His career with us just hit the pause button [during treatment]. He's got to get himself right as a person before we worry [about the rest]."
Players say Manziel mostly kept his head down and worked during this week's two offseason sessions, which included two hours of classroom work with coaches and two hours of strength and conditioning each day.
Manziel sat in the quarterback room with 12-year veteran Josh McCown, Connor Shaw and Thad Lewis.
Pettine, who isn't close to naming a favorite this early in the offseason, also didn't dismiss questions when asked if the Browns, who have two first-round picks, could possibly trade up to select Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota or another player. Pettine joked "why not?" on the topic and stressed that teams discuss trades possibilities all the time.
When asked if Manziel still can be a successful NFL quarterback, cornerback Joe Haden said "One thousand percent," adding Manziel stayed at the facility until 3 p.m. Monday, despite the organized session ending at noon.
"I think he's got his mind right and he's ready to get going," Haden said. "Actions speak louder than words. He has a lot to show the people. But we have his back."
Left tackle Joe Thomas recently told ESPNCleveland.com that Manziel "probably lost a lot of trust among the guys on the team" last season, when he completed 18-of-35 passes for 175 yards and threw two interceptions in seven quarters of play and was fined on the last week of the year for missing hamstring treatment.
Haden said Manziel doesn't have to earn his trust back, believing Manziel has a unique skill set but will need to show more than his "flashes" from training camp by being committed more consistently.
"He has a second chance and an opportunity to get after it," Haden said. "I feel bad for him. [The constant attention is] a lot for a kid to take. I'm not saying he didn't put some of this on himself. He's a grown man. But from our conversation, I like where his mind's at now."
When asked if Manziel has been worth the trouble he has put the team through, Pettine said players often deal with off-field issues.
"We're going to coach him hard," Pettine said. "We obviously saw a lot of ability in him [in last year's draft]."