Could Johnny Manziel make a comeback to football?
On Thursday, CFL team Hamilton Tiger-Cats released a statement that said Manziel is now eligible for the CFL after being ruled ineligible earlier this year.
“We have been notified that Johnny Manziel, on our negotiation list since September 2012, has gone through the formal process established by Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, and that provided he meets the conditions laid out to him by the Commissioner, is now eligible to play in the Canadian Football League in 2018 and beyond,” the statement read.
“We appreciate the CFL office and Commissioner Randy Ambrosie’s due diligence in this matter. We also recognize Johnny Manziel for thus far demonstrating the attributes necessary to continue his career in our great league. We will have no further comment at this time.”
Manziel was ruled ineligible in September, but the CFL indicated that if certain undisclosed conditions were met, Manziel would be able to play in 2018. Here’s the statement from the CFL in September, and it appears those have indeed been met.
“After an extensive process of due diligence and an in-person meeting with Mr. Manziel, the Commissioner has decided that he will not register any contract for Mr. Manziel for this season. However, Mr. Manziel will be eligible to sign a contract for the 2018 season and, if Mr. Manziel meets certain conditions that have been spelled out by the Commissioner, the CFL will register that contract. The specifics of those conditions are confidential and will not be disclosed. The CFL has extended the stay on the expiry of the 10-day window for Mr. Manziel until Nov. 30, 2017 and therefore Mr. Manziel will remain on Hamilton’s negotiation list until that date.”
It’s certainly no secret about Manziel’s off-the-field issues that helped create such a quick exit from the NFL. He tried out for the Tiger-Cats in August, but the deal never happened.
Tiger-Cats’ head coach June Jones turned some heads recently with his comments regarding Manziel’s upside and ability.
“I think he’d be the best player to ever play up here,” Jones said. “He can throw it and he can run it like nobody ever has been able to do.”
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
