Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has to earn the trust of his teammates again, according to safety Donte Whitner.

Manziel was criticised for his party antics last season and checked himself into rehab in February for personal problems.

When asked if Manziel needed to prove himself, Whitner told reporters: "I would say yes to that. I would think that he would say yes to that, but the thing is, we commend him for what he did. Nobody knew the actual things that were going on in his life but him and his family. So I commend him to be so young and take the initiative and do what he did.

"It can only help him as a person first and foremost, and then as a football player. I believe that he'll come in, he'll earn our trust back, he's that type of guy, he'll have to compete for his job and I believe he'll be up for that challenge."

The Browns selected Manziel in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.