Johnny Manziel has yet to throw a pass in the Canadian Football League, but the former Heisman Trophy winner still scored a big win on Sunday by being traded from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to the last-place Montreal Alouettes.
Manziel, 25, had been serving as a backup in Hamilton, where Jeremiah Masoli is entrenched as the starter after a CFL record nine-straight 300-yard passing performances.
Now the former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns will be reunited with Montreal coach Mike Sherman, who actually recruited Manziel to Texas A&M in 2011. (Manziel did not play until 2012, by which point Kevin Sumlin was coaching the Aggies)
Manziel (left) had been serving as a backup in Hamilton, where Jeremiah Masoli (right) is entrenched as the starter after a CFL record nine-straight 300-yard passing performances
Manziel famously became the first freshman in NCAA history to win a Heisman in 2012, when he was also named the Associated Press Player of the Year. He was recruited by Mike Sherman
Manziel never got to play for current Montreal coach Sherman (right) who recruited him at Texas A&M. Sherman took an NFL job in 2012 as Manziel was becoming a household name
The 1-4 Alouettes currently have the worst offense in the CFL, so Manziel is expected to get a chance to play. He made a two-year commitment to the CFL in May, but if Manziel can re-establish himself as a capable quarterback, he might find his way back to the NFL in 2020.
According to reporter Jason La Canfora, Manziel has a base salary of $122,000 that went with a $10,000 signing bonus and an $18,000 housing stipend. There are also other incentives that could total $30,000 – benefits he could earn in 2019 as well, when he will have a $202,000 base salary.
Manziel earned nearly $8 million over two NFL seasons, according to Spotrac.
‘This is a move both Kavis Reed and I felt we needed to make at this time,’ Sherman, who also served as the Green Bay Packers coach from 2000 until 2005, the told 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.’
Manziel’s arm strength and mobility are considered tremendous advantages in the CFL, which offers a larger playing field than the NFL and promotes quarterbacks who can throw outside the pocket.
Although he hasn’t played since 2015, Montreal felt strongly enough about Manziel to surrender two future first-round picks to Hamilton in the five-player deal.
‘We have acquired an exceptional quarterback with undeniable talent,’ Alouettes general manager Kavis Reed said in a statement. ‘With his great mobility, his athletic abilities and his instinct we believe that he will have a positive impact on our offence.’
Manziel famously became the first freshman in NCAA history to win a Heisman in 2012, when he was also named the Associated Press Player of the Year. He would finish his college career with two All-SEC nods in his only two seasons before being drafted by the Browns with the 22nd-overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
He has not played in the NFL since 2015, by which point he had developed a reputation for partying and alcohol abuse after a series of arrests.
In a February interview with Good Morning America, Manziel revealed that he was self-medicating with alcohol and other substances back in 2016 when he got the boot from the Cleveland Browns after two seasons.
Manziell has since admitted to being bipolar and said he is being treated for the disorder.
He also recently got married to his longtime girlfriend, Bre Tiesi, and in March, while auditioning for 12 NFL teams, insisted that he is a changed person.
‘I would sit here today and say that I’m a different person than I was in the past,’ Manziel told San Diego’s NBC affiliate. ‘I know I rubbed people the wrong way.’
Manziel was previously in a two-year relationship with Colleen Crowley, who he is accused of hitting, kidnapping and threatening to kill following a night of partying in January 2016.
The Dallas County district attorney’s office agreed in December 2016 to drop charges against Manziel if he took an anger management course, listened to victims of domestic abuse speak at an impact panel and attended a rehab facility for drug and alcohol abuse.
Crowley claimed in court papers that Manziel hit her so hard during the incident that she lost hearing in her left ear.
Manziel, through his agent, thanked Hamilton after the trade.
“Professional salute & respect for @Ticats @ticatmitchell &Coach Jones for doing the rgt thing.Thank y’all for the opp &great luck in future!” Manziel’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, tweeted Sunday night.
Montreal hosts Edmonton on Thursday night. The Alouettes have scored a CFL-low 69 points and allowed a league-high 148.