Manziel Barred From CFL

Johnny Manziel's time in the Canadian Football League is over.
The CFL terminated the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner's contract with the Montreal Alouettes on Wednesday. The league also informed the eight other teams that it wouldn't register a contract for Manziel if any tried to sign him.

The league said Manziel had violated an agreement that made him eligible to play in the CFL.

"We advised Montreal that Johnny had violated one of the conditions we had set for him to be in our league. And Montreal announced his release today," CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in Vancouver. "We didn't release the terms of those conditions then and we're not going to do that now.

"We're trying to do what we believe is in the best interests of the entire league. The conditions we set, we thought were the right ones. Those conditions have been violated and we feel it's best, and Montreal feels its best, to let Johnny move on. And we think it's best for our league that he do the same. And we wish him well."


A post on Manziel's Twitter account indicated he was already looking for other opportunities.

"I want to thank (Alouettes coach Mike Sherman), my teammates and the CFL fans," Manziel tweeted. "My time there re-established my love for the game of football and the work that goes into it. I look forward to exploring new options within the United States."

One option for the former Texas A&M star and onetime Cleveland Brown could be the Alliance of American Football, which kicked off its inaugural season earlier this month. Manziel said he was intrigued by the prospect of playing in either that or Xtreme Football League, which begins operation next year.

"It's great for football, it's great for the guys who need more opportunity, need more film and time to play," Manziel said on Barstool Sports Comeback SZN podcast. "I don't know exactly what my exact steps will be for the next years coming up, but at least there's a lot of options.

"Me and E.B. (agent Erik Burkhardt) are fully committed to playing ball and trying to get into the best situation possible and that's what it's all about."

In December 2017, CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie announced the league would approve a contract for the former Cleveland Browns first-round pick, who at the time was on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats negotiation list. But Manziel had to fulfil certain requirements to join the league.

The league's due diligence included an assessment by an independent expert on domestic violence and a head-to-head meeting between Manziel and Ambrosie.

Exactly what conditions or requirements that were broken or violated weren't divulged. Manziel had sought treatment for anger management and alcohol abuse as part of his acquittal on a 2016 charge of domestic violence.

Manziel eventually ended up signing with Hamilton in May 2018 but was unable to get on to the field behind starter Jeremiah Masoli. The Tiger-Cats dealt Manziel in a trade with Montreal on July 23.

The move reunited Manziel with Sherman, who recruited him to Texas A&M. Acquired to be Montreal's No. 1 quarterback, the 26-year-old nicknamed Johnny Football went 2-6 as a starter, completing 106 of 165 passes (64.2 percent) for 1,290 yards with five TDs and seven interceptions.

He also ran for 215 yards on 29 carries as Montreal (5-13) finished third in the East Division but missed the CFL playoffs.

"We are disappointed by this turn of events," Alouettes GM Kavis Reed said in a statement. "Johnny was provided a great deal of support by our organization, in collaboration with the CFL, but he has been unable to abide by the terms of his agreement.

"We worked with the league and presented alternatives to Johnny, who was unwilling to proceed."

Manziel was taken in the first round, No. 22 overall, in the 2014 NFL draft by Cleveland. But following two tumultuous seasons, the Browns released the Tyler, Texas, native in March 2016 after he posted a 2-6 record as their starter.

Manziel appeared in just 14 games with Cleveland, completing 47 of 258 attempts (57.0 percent) for 1,675 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also ran for 259 yards and a touchdown.

Manziel had been out of football until signing with Hamilton. When Manziel joined the Tiger-Cats, coach June Jones gushed about his potential.

"I think he'd be the best player to ever play up here," Jones said. "He can throw it and he can run it like nobody ever has been able to do."

 

Just saw that and no surprise at all. Johnny Football is indeed the second coming of Ryan Leaf with a dose of Todd Marinovich thrown in for good measure. I don't think the AAF will want him since they are strong on "moral character". So far though, doesn't look like moral character is filling many seats in these vacuous stadiums. Finances may dictate they incorporate a few box office draw "personalities" into the mix.

 

Leave it to June Jones! Does he not remember that Flutie and Warren Moon both played "up there"?

 

There is just something so bizarre about this guy! Prior to his being drafted by the Browns, because I had a bet with a Browns fan, I did some research on him and I found enough to tell me that he was almost assured of having mental stability issues. How is it that is guy earned the rep he did in college and got drafted by anybody, let alone the 22nd overall pick?

 

I believe he has moved on to Memphis of the AAP.

 

Yes and he played the other night. His first play he ran for 12 yards, but he didn't do anything. I think they just put him in for a few plays to see what he could do and drum up interest. Memphis did have a come from behind victory but Johnny didn't have anything to do with it.

 

It is funny all I ever see is how this guy gets himself into more and more of a downward spiral of despair lol..

I never did buy the Johnny brand. Never have heard someone talked about so much that has done so little

 

MohaveDesert cited two great examples.

 

Sorry not sure what you're referring to.

I never looked at this guy and thought he had any potential whatsoever. With that said, I've never seen someone dominate the headlines for absolutely nothing. "Johnny Football"? wth?

Just another college QB that had one good college year really with people putting him up on a pedestal.

We saw how truly amazing he was in the NFL. Most overhyped and talked about sports dud in football history.

 

FWIW He is a legend in South Texas.

 

His previous post in this thread cited Johnny football as the second coming of Ryan Leaf with some Tony Marinovich sprinkled in. Two other over-hyped high first round selections. Funny story is that I was living in Indianapolis at the time that they drafted Peyton Manning. I thought they made a mistake not drafting R. Leaf. Hindsight bit me in bum on that one. Tony Marinovich is in the running as the biggest flop to be selected first in the NFL.