Johnny Manziel

A day after trading for quarterback Johnny Manziel, Montreal Alouettes head coach Mike Sherman suggested that Manziel could potentially make his first start for the team Thursday.

"We didn't bring him here to have him sit on the bench..." Sherman said, per the CFL. "We will see how the week plays out."

#AlsMtl Sherman says Manziel’s introduction to the field will depend on how quickly he absorbs the playbook. Wouldn’t commit to suiting up Thursday, but still has two more practice days. #CFL #TSN

— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNWpg) July 23, 2018

On Sunday, Manziel and offensive linemen Tony Washington and Landon Rice were acquired by Montreal in exchange for defensive end Jamaal Westerman, wideout Chris Williams and two first-rounders (2020, 2021).

Manziel, 25, signed with the Tiger-Cats ahead of the 2018 season, though he was brought aboard as Jeremiah Masoli's backup and didn't start for the team in the regular season. In the preseason, he completed 21 of his 31 passes and threw for a touchdown.

Despite spending the season as a backup, Manziel is remaining patient with his new team.

"When I'm ready, they will give me the chance," he said in his introductory press conference, per the CFL.

Expectations are high in Montreal, however. 

"We have acquired an exceptional quarterback with undeniable talent," general manager Kavis Reed said, per ESPN.com. "With his great mobility, his athletic abilities and his instinct we believe that he will have a positive impact on our offense."

"This is a move both Kavis Reed and I felt we needed to make at this time," Sherman added, per Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette. "Neither one of us believes in the status quo and felt we needed to shake things up. Johnny is someone we believe can elevate one of the most important positions on our team. I look forward to reuniting with Johnny again and working with him."

Sherman and Manziel have indeed come full circle. Sherman recruited Manziel to Texas A&M in 2011 when he was the Aggies head coach, though Manziel became the starter under Kevin Sumlin in 2012.  

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League traded former Cleveland Browns quarterback and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel on Sunday even though he never played a single down for the team.

Duane Forde of TSN initially reported the news, and the CFL announced details of the trade.

The Montreal Alouettes acquired Manziel, international offensive lineman Tony Washington and national offensive lineman Landon Rice and sent national defensive end Jamaal Westerman, international wide receiver Chris Williams and first-round selections in 2020 and 2021 to the Tiger-Cats.

Manziel sat behind quarterback Jeremiah Masoli with Hamilton, and the CFL's announcement noted the former Oregon Ducks signal-caller tied a league record with nine consecutive games with 300 or more passing yards. The former Texas A&M quarterback likely wasn't going to see much playing time staying put.

That could change with Montreal, though, which is in need of a boost. The Alouettes are an ugly 1-4 through five contests and rank dead last in the league with 69 total points. They are also a mere seventh out of nine in passing yards.

There is also familiarity in place, as Montreal is coached by Mike Sherman, who was Manziel's college coach during his redshirt freshman campaign in 2011.

Sports Illustrated noted Manziel is signed with the CFL through the 2019 season, but the 2014 first-round pick of the Browns appeared in 15 NFL games and has told TMZ he wants to return to the league in the future.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach June Jones believes Johnny Manziel deserves a second chance to play in the National Football League. 

Per ESPN's David Hamilton, Jones explained that Manziel's work with the CFL team will help him get another shot in the NFL. 

"I've been pleasantly surprised the last three weeks what a good teammate he is, how smart he is, how he sees the game," Jones said. "He should be playing in the National Football League, and I believe he will when he gets through with us."

Jones also offered a potential timetable for Manziel to get back to the NFL. 

"It'll take two years," he said. "They're [NFL executives, coaches] waiting to see that he's taken care of his off-the-field problems."

After being out of football for more than two years, Manziel signed a two-year contract with the Tiger-Cats in May. 

"Made the decision today to sign my contract with the CFL and further my football career after a long break," he wrote on Twitter. "Very grateful for everyone that's been supporting me along the way. I believe this is the best opportunity for me moving forward and I'm eager for what the future holds."

Now 25 years old, Manziel announced in February he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He was cut by the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him No. 22 overall in 2014, after two seasons.

Manziel is the backup quarterback to Jeremiah Masoli for the Tiger-Cats, who opened their season on June 16 against Calgary. The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner went 12-of-20 for 88 yards in a June 9 preseason game against Montreal. 

Terrell Owens denies rumors he's influencing Julio Jones' holdout. The player who could make the Jaguars even more dangerous this year. How to create a monster World Cup team out of NFL players. All that and more in this week's 10-Point Stance.

        

1. Julio Jones is his own man

There are three facts we need to get straight before we dive into this story about Julio Jones and Terrell Owens.

First: Jones wants more money, and he skipped minicamp to get more money. This is a fact.

Second: The relationship between Jones and the Falcons is strained. League sources have told me this for weeks. It can be repaired, but for now, there's tension. This is a fact.

Third: All of this has absolutely nothing to do with anything but Jones' relationship with the team and the money he should be getting paid. This is a fact.

So how do we get from those facts—and from the story of Jones' contract desires, one of the potentially more important stories in the NFL this offseason—to Owens?

The jump in logic is indicative of something many people seem to be suffering from these days: Terrell Owens Derangement Syndrome.

The key to this lies in a report from D. Orlando Ledbetter, a longtime Falcons reporter and an excellent journalist. Ledbetter said on ESPN Radio in Charlotte on Monday that the Falcons are uneasy about Jones' relationship with Owens, whom he's trained with this offseason.

"The fact that he's running around with Terrell Owens has the front office uneasy," Ledbetter said.

Ledbetter's report may be correct, but what is incorrect is this notion that Owens is actually having some type of negative effect on Jones. Or that he's in any way involved in Jones' negotiations with the team.

"I have no idea where all of this is coming from," Owens told me this week. "I have nothing to do with Julio except training. This is the media trying [to] create something that's not even there. It's very unfortunate. What possible reason would they have to create that narrative?"

To be clear: Based on Ledbetter's report, it's not the media that's creating this narrative; it's the Falcons.

The truth is Jones wants more money because Jones wants more money.

This is not complicated. Jones believes he's outperformed his contract. A thousand players before him have felt the same way, and thousand more after him will.

The difference with this example is that Owens is involved, and so naturally, he is being used as a scapegoat. Because that's just the treatment Owens gets.

Global warming? That's Owens' fault, too. Stock market takes a hit? Owens. Aliens invade? All Owens.

From everything I've been told by people close to Jones, the reality is that he sees Owens as a good person and valuable influence. That they've trained together says nothing more than that the two have a positive and close relationship.

And really, how weak a person do you have to believe Jones to be to think he'd be easily influenced in a negative way by Owens?

(Or maybe you think Owens is some type of Obi-Wan Terrobi? Owens: "You don't need to go to minicamp." Jones: "I don't need to go to minicamp.")

What needs to be understood is that Jones is highly intelligent (like Owens) and sees the landscape around him. Everyone is getting richer, including his teammate Matt Ryan. Jones is also aware of the toll the sport takes on his body and mind. He wants to get his cash like everyone else.

He is his own man.

He isn't being brainwashed by Owens. He doesn't need to be.

                  

2. Is Rashad Greene the Jaguars' next star?

You might not know the name Rashad Greene yet. You will next year.

Greene is a wide receiver for the Jaguars. If you do know him, it might be for one of the biggest plays of his young career, this punt return against Indianapolis last December.

It was one of the fastest punt returns I've ever seen.

Greene has some of the best pure talent on a Jaguars team that is one of the five most talented in football. He has only shown a portion of that talent so far because of an Achilles injury.

Now Greene is back, healthy and has a chance to be a breakout player.

Greene is a microcosm of the entire Jaguars team. The franchise is still growing, and its potential is vast. The team has some issues, of course, like every team, but it also is continuing to grow. Like Greene.

"I feel like it's time for me to take it to another level," Greene told me recently. "I want to show Jaguars fans what I can really do, and I think I can do so much more."

The Jaguars lost to the Patriots in last year's conference title game but had a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter. There's no reason to think this team can't make a Super Bowl run this coming season. I asked Greene if that was a fair thing to say.

"I believe that's fair, yes," he said. "We have to keep working and getting better and we will. I feel like we have everything we need to make it. We have a lights-out defense and an offense that can run the ball well and pass it well. I've seen Blake [Bortles] improve so much this offseason. His decisions are cleaner and he's got the support of the entire team."

The Jaguars aren't going anywhere but up. Like Greene.

               

3. $20 million for Oliver Luck?

One piece of news I missed regarding Oliver Luck taking control of the XFL was this from the Sports Business Journal:

Why would Oliver Luck leave a stable job at the NCAA to be commissioner of the XFL, a league that had failed before? Reports @sbjsbd: pic.twitter.com/R7TgD0E6sx

— Rachel Bachman (@Bachscore) June 11, 2018

Now, that's not Roger Goodell cash. Goodell was paid $31.7 million in 2015, the last time public figures were available. He makes around $40 million per year now.

Still, that $20 million annually for essentially a startup is a great deal of money. It's also yet another signal the XFL reboot is real.

             

4. The Browns and Super Bowl odds

The most interesting part of this Sports Illustrated story on the beginning of legal gambling in New Jersey is the picture showing Super Bowl odds.

The goal of oddsmakers is to encourage gambling. That's understood.

But they have the Browns 75-1 to win the Super Bowl—better odds than the Jets, Bengals, Colts, Washington, Dolphins, Bills, Cardinals and Buccaneers.

Oddsmakers are wrong a lot. Like sportswriters.

The odds do reflect a general feeling I hear across the NFL that the Browns will be better this coming season. Granted, they can't get worse than 0-16, but the optimism seems to be genuine and reflect faith in quarterback Tyrod Taylor and that the Browns have some weapons on offense, like Carlos Hyde and a stacked receiving group.

They are in position to make a dramatic move up.

Just don't bet on them to win the Super Bowl. Not yet.

         

5. The NFL All-World Cup team

Give me this team with one year to train, and the U.S. the next two World Cups.

Using a standard 4-4-2:

Forward: Antonio Brown

Striker: Justin Tuck

Left midfielder: Le'Veon Bell

Defensive midfielder: Patrick Peterson (team captain)

Defensive midfielder: Jalen Ramsey

Right midfielder: Odell Beckham Jr.

Left back: David Johnson

Sweeper: Darren Sproles

Goalkeeper: Rob Gronkowski

Stopper: Marcus Peters

Right back: Xavier Rhodes

Manager: Bill Belichick

FIFA president: Roger Goodell

Yes, I know: It's a different sport and athletes don't automatically traverse from one sport to another. Yes, I also know: Stick to football.

                     

6. Contract disputes shouldn't be one way

Cranky Bill Polian is back, this time with a rant about how players should live up to their contracts:

It’s ironic that former NFL GM Bill Polian wants players to honor their contract without pointing out teams REGULARY fail to honor the contracts they sign.Far more players are waived & shaken down for pay reductions each year in the NFL compared to those holding out for new deals pic.twitter.com/QizM54H5OK

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) June 13, 2018

Polian has every right to his opinion. The only problem is there's a massive hole in his logic.

Why should only players live up to their deals, and not teams?

Teams cut veterans and break contracts all the time. It's almost a daily occurrence, and that is the right of NFL teams.

It's conversely also the right of players to break contracts if they feel those contracts are outdated or if they've outplayed them.

None of this means you should have sympathy for players, but it's always fascinating when people ask players to behave one way while failing to acknowledge teams behave in the exact same manner. 

            

7. Manziel isn't playing, but that won't last

Just in case you're not a CFL junky loser like me and missed one of the biggest pieces of news from the league: Johnny Manziel didn't play in the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' season opener.

The odds that Manziel stays on the bench for long are slim. He will play and soon. He wasn't brought to Canada to sit on the bench.

My guess: Manziel makes his debut in some fashion—either off the bench or as a starter—on June 29, Hamilton's home opener.

           

8. One of the great quotes of the year

A post-Father's Day quote below from Detroit wide receiver Marvin Jones, via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. I love the imagery, the humor and the humanity of it. Many people see NFL players as robots; they are not.

Here is Jones on life with four young kids: "We don't have anything hanging up because we're always throwing balls around the house. We don't have any paintings, nothing. The TV is probably the only thing we can break and that's just how it's always been. We throw footballs in the living room. You have limits everywhere in life, but there's no limits in the house."

                       

9. Still nothing on Dez Bryant

It's still incredibly quiet regarding the destination of Dez Bryant, a fierce player who the league doesn't think has much left. (I do.)

The landing spot for Bryant that I continue to hear is San Francisco, but that's far from certain. The truth is, for the moment, we simply don't know. It remains one of the great (and temporary) secrets in the league.

                        

10. NFL's dead season

It's officially here. The NFL slows to a crawl until late July when training camps begin in earnest.

In the meantime, watch this scene from an episode of Deep Space Nine. It's one of the best in Trek history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TREQGl54BU8

You're welcome.

                         

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @mikefreemanNFL.

Johnny Manziel won't be in the starting lineup for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' season opener, but the former Cleveland Browns quarterback showed his maturity Friday while supporting starter Jeremiah Masoli.

"We're all behind Jeremiah, starting tomorrow," Manziel said, per the Associated Press (via ESPN). "More than anything, I want a win for this team. It's more than me. It's more than just one individual. It's a team effort, and it takes everybody we have on this roster to go out and win games."

On Saturday, Hamilton begins its 2018 season against the Calgary Stampeders, a team that came one win away from a championship before losing in the Grey Cup last season.

While the team signed Manziel in May as the quarterback attempts to make a return to the NFL, he wasn't able to win the starting job from Masoli, who played at Oregon and Ole Miss during his college career.

"I would say Jeremiah is doing very, very well," Tiger-Cats coach June Jones said in May, per Mike Rodak of ESPN. "Until something creates for me to take him out of there, I would say he'll be our starter for the whole year, hopefully, and win the Grey Cup."

Manziel, a first-round pick in 2014, will need to wait for now.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Johnny Manziel threw his first career touchdown pass in his second CFL preseason appearance against the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday.

Johnny Football entered the game in the second quarter and finished with 88 yards and one touchdown on 12-of-20 passing, as well as 19 rushing yards on four carries in Hamilton's 30-15 win at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal.

Manziel's touchdown toss came with just over four minutes remaining in the first half, as he found former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets running back Alex Green in the flat for a three-yard score:

In his second CFL preseason appearance, Johnny Manziel has his first CFL touchdown! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/D7DX33t3Mt

— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) June 9, 2018

The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner is known for celebrating his touchdowns in style, but as pointed out by TSN's Matthew Scianitti, there was nothing over the top about his reaction:

Johnny Manziel just threw his first touchdown in the #CFL. No money sign.

— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) June 9, 2018

Prior to Manziel taking the field, Hamilton was trailing Montreal 14-0 and struggling to get anything going offensively.

Starter Jeremiah Masoli didn't play Saturday in preparation for the regular season, which led Hamilton head coach June Jones to give Bryant Moniz the start.

Moniz went just 3-of-7 for 17 yards and one interception during his stint.

Manziel's second drive was more challenging, as Jabar Westerman set him back with a sack on second down, leading to a punt:

Manziel unable to escape the clutches of Jabar Westerman #CFLGameday pic.twitter.com/toXVit92Xe

— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) June 9, 2018

The Ti-Cats got the ball back shortly thereafter, and the former Cleveland Browns signal-caller went to work with his legs:

https://twitter.com/CFLonTSN/status/1005500386495684608

Manziel and Co. could not muster any additional points, though, and they entered the locker room trailing 14-7.

Late in the first half, Montreal linebacker Henoc Muamba took down Manziel with a late hit.

In a halftime interview with Didier Ormejuste of RDS (h/t Scianitti), Muamba seemingly admitted to trying to send Manziel a message, saying he wanted to show Johnny Football "we're here, and we're not going to back down."

Manziel didn't appear to be shaken, as he remained in the lineup to start the second half and kept the Ti-Cats offense moving.

Arguably his most impressive play of the game came early in the third quarter when he rolled to the left, threw against his body and completed a pass for a first down:

Scrambles and Completes ✔️#CFLGameday pic.twitter.com/qcmCtyuvGs

— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) June 9, 2018

That drive led to a field goal, and Manziel followed that up with another field goal drive to cut Montreal's lead to 14-13.

A pick-six then put the Tiger-Cats on top by a 20-14 margin before Manziel extended the lead to 23-14 with another drive that ended in a field goal.

The key play on that drive was another accurate first-down pass while Johnny Football was on the move:

May not be pretty, but it gets the job done #CFLGameday pic.twitter.com/xtW7ornl20

— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) June 9, 2018

That drive marked the end of Manziel's day, and it was a successful outing considering Hamilton scored 23 unanswered points after he entered the game.

Manziel is set to serve in a backup capacity to Masoli to start the regular season, and the Tiger-Cats' first game will take place next Saturday against the Calgary Stampeders.

Johnny Manziel's CFL debut included a heated moment when he exchanged words with some members of the Toronto Argonauts during Friday's preseason clash at Tim Hortons Field.

"I'm not here to be pushed over," Manziel explained, per ESPN.com's Mike Rodak. "You can come at me, 'cause my name's in the papers, because my name's on TV—you can come at me. I'm not backing down. I'm here for a reason; I'm here to play ball. I'm not gonna be treated like s--t."

Johnny Manziel wants the entire @CFL to know he doesn't plan on backing down from anybody. pic.twitter.com/1Jgk9Mwfsg

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2018

Other than the brief verbal altercation, Manziel acquitted himself nicely in his first game with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Operating in relief of starter Jeremiah Masoli, the Cleveland Browns' 2014 first-round pick completed nine of 11 passes for 80 yards. He also logged 10 yards on two carries.

The Tiger-Cats will be back in action June 9 against the Montreal Alouettes.

Johnny Manziel returned to the professional gridiron Friday night for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' preseason opener and flashed a bit of promise against the Toronto Argonauts at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario.

HEEERRRREEESSS JOHHNNNNNY!@JManziel2 is now under centre!#CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/DmOsbGnXAk

— CFL (@CFL) June 2, 2018

Manziel, who last suited up in 2015 for the Cleveland Browns, finished his CFL debut 9-of-11 passing for 80 yards after entering as the second-string signal-caller in the second quarter.

Jeremiah Masoli drew the start ahead of Manziel and completed eight of 13 passes for 115 yards, one touchdown and a pair of interceptions.

Once Masoli's evening came to a close, Manziel entered to a nice ovation from the home crowd:

Here he comes! Johnny Manziel is entering the game for the @Ticats! pic.twitter.com/KvLL23JX9X

— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) June 2, 2018

The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner proceeded to fire a nine-yard strike to former Oklahoma wide receiver Jalen Saunders on his first snap before his opening drive ended in a turnover on downs:

Johnny Manziel off to a good start in a @Ticats uniform. pic.twitter.com/wiWE8lzHO6

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2018

Following a 3-of-3 start, Manziel trotted out for a second drive that ended in one of Hamilton's seven first-half turnovers:

Johnny Manziel’s second possession wasn’t pretty. He got pass off after bad snap on first play, but WR dropped it. Then Manziel completed his second pass and had the WR fumble it.

— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) June 2, 2018

Manziel 4/5 at the half. 4.8 air yds per attempt (CFL average in 2017 was 9.6). All horizontal routes. 1 inaccurate completion, 1 a hair off target. #Ticats

— Derek Taylor🏈 (@DTonOB) June 2, 2018

Manziel stayed in to start the second half, but a two-and-out that featured some questionable decision-making forced him back to the sidelines to regroup before heading out for his fifth and final series.

Johnny Manziel’s fourth possession went nowhere. He was pressured and dangerously lobbed ball on first down, completed pass for only 6 yards on second down, and Hamilton had an illegal punt out of bounds on third down.

— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) June 2, 2018

Manziel bounced back on the Ticats' ensuing possession and ripped a 21-yard completion to Damarr Aultman after rolling to his right:

Vintage Manziel on this play. #CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/wjt1kvSNbv

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2018

Some #Argos players are sharing their sideline “scouting report” of Manziel with me. The clean version: “Keep (Manziel) in the pocket, and he’ll have problems... if he gets out of the pocket he can do things” #CFL

— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) June 2, 2018

Head coach June Jones has made it clear Manziel won't start Week 1, but if he can continue to get comfortable in Hamilton's quick-strike offense and settle into a more comfortable rhythm as a pocket passer, it stands to reason he could contend for snaps later in the season.

Johnny Manziel's night is done. Pretty solid showing for first game in 2.5 years.

Finished 9-12 for 80 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 2 carries for 10 yards, took 2 sacks.

Flashed athleticism, ability to extend play and keep eyes down field, decent arm strength.

— Lorenzo Reyes (@LorenzoGReyes) June 2, 2018

The Tiger-Cats will wrap their preseason slate June 9 against the Montreal Alouettes as they continue preparations for a Week 1 clash with the Calgary Stampeders.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach June Jones said Thursday that Johnny Manziel has no chance to overtake starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli before the team's Week 1 game against the Calgary Stampeders. 

Jones told reporters Masoli will "absolutely" be the starter June 16 and cut off the next question about whether there would be any scenario Manziel could take the job, firmly stating "No."

Hamilton opens the preseason Friday against the Toronto Argonauts and plays its final warm-up contest next Saturday when it travels to face the Montreal Alouettes.

Manziel, who signed with the Ti-Cats earlier this month, is set to battle Vernon Adams and Dane Evans for the backup job behind Masoli.

The 25-year-old former Cleveland Browns QB downplayed any pressure as he makes his return to professional football after a two-year hiatus.

"Just go take a snap and have some fun," Manziel said. "There's no pressure, there's no 'go out and throw 10 touchdown passes in one drive.' It's just ball."

It's hard to know what to expect from the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner. Not only has he been away from the sport for awhile, but he struggled during his time in the NFL with a 74.4 passer rating, and he also dealt with numerous off-field problems before the Browns released him in March 2016.

Manziel's playmaking ability has never been in question, though. If he showcases a renewed dedication to football and Masoli struggles, Jones' stance may become less hard-line as the 2018 season rolls on.

NFL and CFL Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon told TMZ Sports he believes Johnny Manziel can rebuild his football career in Canada.

"Now that he's gotten his life cleaned up, I think this is definitely a viable option for him to rebuild his resume as a football player it in the Canadian Football League in a game that's more suited for his game," Moon said. "And if [NFL] teams feel he has the possibility of coming back, he'll have that opportunity, but Canada is also a viable option for him to stay up there and have a long, very successful career."

Moon noted that several players took the CFL route to reach the NFL, including himself, Jeff Garcia and Doug Flute. But Moon believes Manziel will need to be humble and truly immerse himself in the CFL game and its differences to have the success he's seeking up north:

"It's a totally different game to the NFL game. It's a wider field, which is to his advantage, but there's 12 guys out there as opposed to 11, so you have an extra defensive back out there. Three downs, so the first down is really important up there because there's only three downs as opposed to four. And the game moves really, really quickly. So I think if he gets up to speed on the philosophy and the changes in the game and how you attack it, the faster he can do that the faster he'll have success."

Moon added that Manziel's status as a former first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns and as a former Texas A&M star puts added pressure on him, as expectations will be high for him in Canada. 

Manziel, 25, signed a two-year deal with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats earlier in May. 

"I don't want to wait around anymore," Manziel said after signing that contract, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "I want a chance to get on the field and get into the locker room and get a chance to play ball again. This isn't just a pit stop for me. I'm not coming here to get what I need to go back down to the NFL. I've signed into this for the long haul, for two years. I'm here to make the most of it."

But Manziel will have to pay his dues. Tiger-Cats' head coach June Jones told reporters he expects former Oregon and Ole Miss quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to serve as the team's starter for the entire 2018 season, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.

So even if Manziel quickly adapts to the CFL game and fits in with his teammates, his fans may have to wait until 2019 before they see Manziel starting once again.