Johnny Manziel also is a ratings machine in the pros.

Saturday’s Cleveland-Detroit game featuring the young quarterback generated the highest rating ever for a preseason game during the 11-year run on NFL Network. The telecast averaged nearly 3 million viewers, trouncing the previous high (2007 Hall of Fame game between Pittsburgh-New Orleans) by 36 percent.

Manziel entered the game midway through the second quarter during the Lions’ 13-12 victory. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 63 yards and rushed for another 27 yards.

You can expect ESPN will turn up the hype machine for Manziel even higher this week. The network will air the Browns-Washington game Monday night.