Johnny Manziel indicted by Texas grand jury on assault charge

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday on a misdemeanor charge stemming from a domestic violence complaint by his ex-girlfriend.

Ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley accused the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and Texas A&M star of hitting her and threatening to kill her during a night out on January 30. Crowley said in court documents that Manziel struck her so hard that she temporarily lost hearing in one ear.

The indictment accuses Manziel of striking Crowley and "forcing [her] into a vehicle and against a vehicle dashboard."

Manziel faces a charge of misdemeanor assault related to family violence, which carries up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

"Johnny will certainly plead 'not guilty' and we believe the evidence will support that plea," said El Paso lawyer Jim Darnell, one of Manziel's attorneys, in a statement issued through Manziel spokeswoman Denise Michaels.

Manziel was cut by the Cleveland Browns in March after two tumultuous seasons marked by inconsistent play and off-the-field headlines about his partying and drinking, including one stint in rehab.

His future in the NFL is uncertain at best, and might be non-existent without a second stint in treatment that two agents have demanded.

The first agent, Erik Burkhardt, cut ties with Manziel after last season. Burkhardt's replacement, Drew Rosenhaus, dropped Manziel last week. His marketing agency dropped him before the charges were filed, and Nike confirmed last week that it no longer has an endorsement deal with Manziel.

The league also has tougher standards regarding domestic violence cases after revising its policy in August 2014 following the Ray Rice case, which could complicate any attempt by Manziel to return.