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Then expected is now official: The Cleveland Browns waived their first-round quarterback Johnny Manziel Friday. From an individual fantasy-football perspective it's not a huge move. But from the team perspective -- which is a fantasy-football issue, it's a big deal.

As Cleveland Plain Dealer staffer Mary Kay Cabot recounts, Manziel's tumultuous two seasons with the Browns were characterized by excessive partying, false promises, lies, offensive photos and videos, a 10-week stay in rehab, possible domestic violence charges and very little production on the football field.

It highlights a bigger issue in Cleveland, where lack of cohesive ownership, management and coaching has relegated the team to the bottom of the NFL heap. The changes at the top this year, both in the front office and with Hue Jackson at head coach, appear to be promising.

And moving on from Manziel is a step in the right direction.

The Browns will now turn their attention to finding their quarterback of the future, likely with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, where their top two candidates are North Dakota State's Carson Wentz and Cal's Jared Goff.

Unless they can pull of a trade for 49ers signal caller Colin Kaepernick. They are involved in the race for his services along with the Denver Broncos.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Kaepernick really likes Jackson and wants to play for him.

According to Cabot, the feeling is mutual. Jackson wanted to draft Kaepernick in 2011 when he was head coach of the Raiders. The 49ers beat him to it, and Jackson lamented it even years later, telling Sports Illustrated, "we wanted the kid in the worst way.'

The Browns have the picks to land Kaepernick and also the cap space to redo his contract, so we'll be watching for more on that.

Meanwhile, Manziel leaves with two years remaining on his four-year $8,248,596 contract -- $7,998,596 of which was guaranteed. And the Browns have only two victories in his six starts to show for all their millions and troubles.

The only thing left for the Browns is to try and recoup some of the guaranteed money they've paid Manziel and avoid paying him some of what's still owed in the event he's suspended by the NFL for violating the personal-conduct policy.

From a cash standpoint, they still owe him guaranteed base salaries in 2016 and 2017 of $1,169,872 and $1,004,125. The Browns kept Manziel for a couple of days to see if a team might offer a conditional late-round pick, but then opted to cut their losses today.

Once he clears waivers -- it would be a huge surprise if anybody picks up him under his current contract, Manziel will be free to sign with any NFL team.

Will somebody bite?

Bringing the circus to town is a lot more bearable when a clown car isn't their featured act. That said, at the right price somebody is going to buy that ticket.

We'll be watching for more on Manziel -- and the Browns' plans at QB in coming days.