Manziel officially returns to professional football, signs 2-year deal in CFL
Johnny Manziel’s “Comeback Szn” will head north of the border, with the former Heisman winner announcing that he has signed a deal to play in the Canadian Football League.
Manziel announced the news himself in a video on Barstool Sports.
“I’m here today to make a big announcement for my life. I am formally signing in the CFL, number one. I’ve decided to sign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. I’ll be up here for what looks like two years. I’m getting back to playing ball, that’s what it comes down to,” he said.
Made the decision today to sign my contract with the CFL and further my football career after a long break. 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.
— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) May 19, 2018
Manziel first worked out for the Tiger-Cats in August 2017 but was not allowed to sign with any CFL team at the time. The league said he had to meet “certain conditions” in order to be eligible to play in the 2018 season.
In December 2017, the league gave Manziel the go-ahead to play. His agent suggested Manziel was looking for a deal that would pay him around, $500,000 per season which is about what former Tiger-Cats quarterback Zach Collaros made in 2017.
After playing in the Spring League in April, Manziel said his primary goal was still to make it back to the NFL, but if that didn’t happen then he would be willing to go to the CFL.
Manziel threw at the University of San Diego’s pro day, with NFL scouts — including a representative from the Patriots — in attendance, but nothing more came of that workout.
New England drafted Danny Etling in the seventh round of the 2018 draft, and that effectively ended their interest in Manziel to even compete for a backup role.
While his performance in the Spring League didn’t earn him an workout with an NFL team, there was interest in one of his teammates, a fellow quarterback.
Free agent QB Cody Keith, who impressed in the Spring League while on Johnny Manziel’s team, is working out for the #Colts tomorrow, source said. He recently worked out for the #Rams and #Chargers, and played in the CFL last year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 16, 2018
Hamilton’s preseason opener is June 1, with their regular season starting on June 16. Other quarterbacks on the team’s roster include former Oregon Ducks Jeremiah Masoli and Vernon Adams.
Manziel isn’t the first Heisman-winning quarterback who headed north of the border in an effort to keep his pro football career alive. Doug Flutie spent eight seasons in the CFL before making his return to the NFL at the age of 35.
Warren Moon made the Pro Football Hall of Fame despite not joining the NFL until he was 27. Moon spent the first six years of his pro career playing in Canada, where he was a five-time Grey Cup champion.
In addition to announcing that he signed with the CFL, Manziel also said he has agreed to a partnership with Barstool Sports and will be doing a Comeback Szn podcast.
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