Angelo Mosca Sr., Former CFL All-Star and WWE Performer, Dies at Age 84
Nov 7, 2021
HAMILTON, ON- AUGUST 26 - Fundraiser in honour of Angelo Mosca, Ti-Cat great who has been diagnosed with Alzhiemers at the Carmen's Banquet Centre in Hamilton. August 26, 2015. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Canadian Football League legend and professional wrestler Angelo Mosca Sr. died Saturday at the age of 84.
Mosca's wife, Helen, announced his death in a Facebook post, per the Associated Press.
"It is with great sadness that the family of Angelo Mosca announce his passing … after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. Angelo was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather as well as friend to so many."
The CFL, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and WWE released statements following Mosca's death.
"Savvy, smart and ahead of his time, he built his bad guy personae into a personal brand that was bigger than life," the CFL's statement read in part.
"Unloved in some markets, where he was the villain, his stature was unmatched in Hamilton, where he was a hero, and when he traded his shoulder pads for wrestling tights, he enthralled Mosca fans in countries near and far."
The Tiger-Cats added:
Angelo Mosca was a legend. He was one of the most legendary players in CFL history and certainly the most legendary to ever wear a Tiger-Cat uniform. His contributions to the game of Canadian football, to our organization, and to the Hamilton community will never be forgotten. We send our sincere condolences to Angelo's entire family.
The former Notre Dame star played offensive and defensive tackle, winning one Grey Cup with the Ottawa Rough Riders and four more with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He played in the CFL from 1958 to 1972 and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
After his football career ended, Mosca moved on to professional wrestling. Known as Angelo "King Kong" Mosca, he competed in the AWA and Stampede Wrestling before moving to WWE. He had rivalries with WWE Hall of Famers and legends Bob Backlund and Pat Patterson.
Mosca worked as a color commentator and promoter after his active wrestling days, per WWE's statement.
Condolences poured in for Mosca after the news was revealed, including one from The Iron Sheik:
Aw, man. Just heard Angelo Mosca passed away. Knew him and of him in so many incarnations. Wrestler, player, one of the true CFL eminences. Sad news, man. Sad news#RIP
Leaving the hotel on our way to Canada’s Wonderland as a kid, I bumped into Angelo Mosca. He graciously signed an autograph for me on a restaurant placemat. He was huge! All those years later covering Tabbies games at Ivor Wynne, I still got starstruck whenever I saw King Kong. pic.twitter.com/uY17pRsBzM
Sad to hear the news of Angelo Mosca’s passing. He played the villain role perfectly, but nobody had a bigger heart and love for the CFL than Ang. When he’d visit the booth before every game, you felt like you’d been with CFL royalty. Condolences to his family and Ticat Nation.
In his later years, Mosca wrote an autobiography (Tell Me To My Face) that was published in 2011. He also became just the second Tiger-Cat in franchise history to have his number retired, when Hamilton decided to do so in 2015.
Johnny Manziel Deserves NFL Shot, Tiger-Cats Head Coach June Jones Says
Jun 21, 2018
CALGARY, AB - JUNE 16: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during warm-ups prior to a CFL game against the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on June 16, 2018 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
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," hewroteon 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, Manzielannouncedin 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.
Johnny Manziel Throws 1st CFL TD Pass in Preseason Win vs. Montreal Alouettes
Jun 9, 2018
HAMILTON, ON - JUNE 1: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats looks to pass against the Toronto Argonauts during a pre-season game at Tim Hortons Field on June 1, 2018 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Toronto defeated Hamilton 36-18. (Photo by John E. Sokolowski/Getty Images)
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
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.
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 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:
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 on Argonauts Altercation: 'I'm Not Gonna Be Treated Like S--t'
Jun 2, 2018
HAMILTON, ON - MAY 28: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats takes part in a preseason practice session at Ron Joyce Stadium on May 28, 2018 in Hamilton, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
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."
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 Throws for 80 Yards vs. Toronto in Debut for CFL's Tiger-Cats
Jun 1, 2018
HAMILTON, ON - MAY 28: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats takes part in a preseason practice session at Ron Joyce Stadium on May 28, 2018 in Hamilton, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
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.
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:
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:
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Johnny Manziel's Hamilton Tiger-Cats Given 2nd-Best Betting Odds to Win Grey Cup
May 21, 2018
Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel during drills at his alma mater during Texas A&M's football Pro Day in College Station, Texas, Tuesday, March 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are the No. 2 betting favorite behind the Calgary Stampeders to win the Grey Cup in the 2018 CFL season.
According to OddsShark, the Tiger-Cats have 11-2 odds of capturing their ninth Grey Cup. The Stampeders, who lost in the 2017 Grey Cup final to the Toronto Argonauts, have 11-5 odds.
Hamilton will be hoping 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel can make a big splash in his first season north of the border. He announced Saturday he formally signed his contract with the Ticats. Manziel hasn't played competitive football since Week 16 of the 2015 NFL regular season.
The Ticats are coming off their second straight losing season and missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Jeremiah Masoli returns as the team's starting quarterback, having thrown for 3,177 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2017.
Johnny Manziel Ruled Eligible to Play in CFL; Rights Owned by Tiger-Cats
Dec 28, 2017
FILE - In this Dec. 27, 2015, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo. Manziel's footwork, decision making and grasp of a pro offense improved significantly in his second season. But now that it is over, the Browns want him to concentrate on his off-field issues. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File)
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Thursday that quarterback Johnny Manziel has been ruled eligible to play in the CFL in 2018.
As seen in the following statement provided by NHL.com's Jamie Thomas, it was determined by CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie that Johnny Football can play next season provided he meets the conditions set before him:
The Tiger-Cats currently have exclusive negotiating rights with Manziel.
A 10-day window was triggered for the Tiger-Cats to sign Manziel after he worked out for them in August, but Ambrosie extended the window before deciding against allowing him to play in the CFL in 2017, per ESPN.com'sKevin Seifert.
Despite ruling him ineligible for 2017, Ambrosie had positive things to say about Manziel with regard to the meeting he had with him in September, according toSeifert:
"He represented himself incredibly well [in the meeting]. He was thoughtful. I found him to be authentic and sincere. I also felt like he seems to have come to a good place in his life. He was talking a lot about his family. Now, I should say that's part of the problem. My bias is towards family. So when I'm with somebody in there talking about my family, immediately I feel good about the conversation.
"That's exactly why we feel for any player who has had some trouble in their past. It's important to not let the laypeople be the only part of the decision-making process. That's why we've implemented a process where we'll lean very heavily on experts who have training and skill that will allow them to really understand where somebody is in their personal journey and be able to give me wise counsel."
Manziel's brief NFL career was marred by off-field issues, including adomestic violence chargethat was dropped.
The Cleveland Browns selected Manziel with the No. 22 overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft after a standout collegiate career at Texas A&M that saw him win the Heisman Trophy.
In two seasons with the Browns, Johnny Football went 2-6 as a starter and finished with 1,675 passing yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions to go along with 259 rushing yards and one score.
Manziel hasn't played in a game since the Browns released him following the 2015 campaign.
CFL Says Art Briles Won't Join Hamilton Tiger-Cats Staff Hours After Being Hired
Aug 28, 2017
Former Baylor head football coach Art Briles watches the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears warm up before an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Art Briles didn't even last a full day at his new job.
While the Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Monday that the former Baylor coach would be an assistant on staff, the decision was apparently overruled by the league Monday night. The CFL provided a statement on its decision, via The Athletic:
Briles was set to work under former Hawaii and SMU head coach June Jones.
Briles was the head coach at Baylor University from 2008-15 but was fired due to his lack of oversight during a sexual assault scandal throughout the football team. Athletic director Ian McCaw and school president Ken Starr also ended up resigning.
The league was apparently aware of Hamilton's decision to hire the coach, according to Tiger-Cats CEO Scott Mitchell.
"I spoke to the league about it as a potential concept and had a good discussion about it, a good deliberation about it," Mitchell said Monday, per Drew Edwards of 3DownNation. "At the end of the day, it comes down to whether a person deserves a second chance."
As Arash Madani of Sportsnet noted, however, there was enough blowback for the league to make an executive decision:
Good for those of you who spoke out, and loudly, about Art Briles having no place in Hamilton and the #CFL.
Based on the latest setback, it will be difficult for the 61-year-old coach to land any public position going forward.
2014 Grey Cup: Stampeders and Tiger-Cats Battle for the Championship
Nov 28, 2014
CALGARY, AB - JULY 18: Yannick Carter #48 of the Calgary Stampeders chases Brandon Banks #16 of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during a CFL game at McMahon Stadium on July 18, 2014 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Stampeders defeated the Tiger-Cats 10-7. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
Following a pair of decisive victories in the CFL's Division Finals last weekend, the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats will face each other on November 30 in the 102nd Grey Cup.
The Stamps (15-3) and Ti-Cats (9-9) were the top teams in their respective divisions and played like it on Sunday. Hamilton handily dispatched the Montreal Alouettes 40-24 while Calgary beat the Edmonton Eskimos 43-18.
Brandon Banks swung the tide of battle for the Ti-Cats by returning two punts for touchdowns en route to 226 punt return yards, a new playoff record.
Quarterback Zach Collaros had a solid game in his first postseason start, going 18-of-27 for 199 yards through the air. But it was Banks and running back Nic Grigsby (93 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards and two touchdowns) who made the difference offensively.
Hamilton's defense snagged three interceptions to short-circuit Montreal's offense, which actually produced 43 more yards than that of the Tiger-Cats.
Hamilton has now won eight of its last 10 games and appears to have some good momentum built up going into the Grey Cup.
Aug 16, 2014; Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (19) gets by Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive back Brandon Stewart (9) to score a touchdown on a rush in the first half at Ron Joyce Stadium at McMaster University. Mand
The Stampeders are also on a bit of a roll. They've won six of their last seven, giving up only 19 points per game during that stretch while scoring 29.6 points per game.
In addition to the success, Calgary will be going into the Grey Cup with as healthy a roster as they've had in quite some time.
Running back Jon Cornish, who led the league in rushing with 1,082 yards despite playing in just nine regular-season games, appears to be healthy and ready to go after picking up 174 all-purpose yards and two TDs last weekend in the Division Final against Edmonton.
Bo Levi Mitchell, who was sidelined for three games during the season, threw for 336 yards and four TDs in his first postseason start last weekend.
After missing all of October and most of November, linebacker Charleston Hughes was back in the lineup last Sunday, earning a tackle in the win.
For the Tiger-Cats, this will be their second straight trip to the championship game after getting trounced 45-23 by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in last year's Grey Cup. Although they are still fairly young—and they have a different QB this year, with Collaros replacing Henry Burris—they should be able to use last year's experience to their advantage.
The Stamps made it to the Grey Cup in 2012, where they too were soundly defeated, losing 35-22 to the Toronto Argonauts.
Like Hamilton, they also have a different quarterback now—Kevin Glenn was Calgary's QB in 2012—but largely feature the same roster which will be drawing on that Grey Cup experience when it takes the field on Sunday.
Calgary and Hamilton faced each other twice in the regular season, with the Stampeders winning both matchups. However, both came in the first half of the season while the Ti-Cats were struggling.
With both teams currently on a roll, it is really anybody's game to win.
The 102nd Grey Cup gets underway at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, at 6:00 pm ET on Sunday.
