The Associated Press
TORONTO — The Canadian Football League released the following statement Wednesday morning regarding the status of international quarterback Johnny Manziel:
“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.”
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats made it known publicly earlier in the year that the former Texas A&M star was indeed on their 45-man negotiation list and as recent as last month had included him as part of a workout held in Buffalo, New York. Shortly after the workout, reports surfaced about potential negotiations beginning between Manziel’s camp and the Ticats but the club denied any speculation that a deal was imminent.
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“Johnny did some good things,” Tiger-Cats VP of football operations Kent Austin said when asked about the workout prior to Labour Day. “On the field, he looked fine. It was a short workout but he’s obviously a talented kid.
“We’re not interested in signing Johnny right now,” he added. “That won’t happen, that’s not imminent.”
Manziel was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round, 22nd overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. The 24-year-old played in five games in his rookie season, connecting on 18 of 35 passes for 175 yards and two interceptions. He also rushed nine times for 29 yards and a touchdown that year.
In his second season with the Browns in 2015, Manziel played in nine games while completing 129 of his 223 passes for 1,500 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. The Texas A&M alum also rushed 37 times for 230 yards that season.
Manziel was released by the Browns in March of 2016 and did not sign with any other NFL team since.
