Former NFL Bust Johnny Manziel Traded To Last Place CFL Team Montreal Alouettes

Quarterback Johnny Manziel joined the Canadian Football League in hopes of working his way towards an NFL comeback. Playing in the CFL has historically been a good prerequisite to getting into the NFL, as tons of players have proven themselves NFL-worthy while playing in Canada. Manziel hasn’t quite had the opportunity to show off his skills in Canada, as he hasn’t seen the field with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but that could change following his being sent to Montreal to play quarterback for the Alouttes.

In the official trade announcement, Alouettes general manager Kavis Reed said, “We have acquired an exceptional quarterback with undeniable talent. With his great mobility, his athletic abilities and his instinct we believe that he will have a positive impact on our offence.”

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The Alouttes are in desperate need of a shift in quarterback play, as they currently sit in last place in the CFL’s East Division and rank last in both points scored and rushing yards. They have also experienced several injuries to their QBs this season, opening up plenty of opportunities for Manziel to play. Perhaps more optimistic for Manziel, though, is the fact that the Alouettes are coached by Mike Sherman, who coached Manziel at Texas A&M, where he shined as a star in college, becoming the first freshman in history to take home the Heisman Trophy in 2012.

On his reunion with Manziel, Sherman told the Montreal Gazette that, “This is a move both Kavis Reed and I felt we needed to make at this time. 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.”

We’ll see if Manziel is given an opportunity to play right away as the Alouettes take on the Edmonton Eskimos on Thursday, July 26.

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Prior to signing a two-year deal with the Tiger-Cats, Manziel worked out in the NFL Spring League in hope of being given an NFL contract. Although he did not perform for the Cleveland Browns well while on the field, his off-the-field issues played a huge part in his failure as an NFL quarterback, including constant partying, ignoring league and team rules, and a 2016 domestic violence charge. However, Manziel has indicated that he’s turned his life around, as he has quit drinking  and is being treated for bipolar disorder.

It’ll be interesting to see how his tenure in Montreal plays out and whether or not he’ll ever be invited back to the NFL. He has shown us that he has a ton of talent in the past, and at only 25 years old, he still has plenty of time to turn things around.

Article by Mike Conn