Johany Jutras/Argonauts.ca
TORONTO — Johnny Manziel is a Montreal Alouette, but for how long?
A year and a half has been the popular answer knowing his obvious desire to get back to the NFL along with a contract that expires after the 2019 season.
Yet if you’re GM Kavis Reed, you have to be hoping that somehow there’s a chance he stays longer — that not only could Johnny Manziel become the star many had envisioned, he could embrace the Canadian game, fall in love with the city of Montreal and stay a little longer than a cup of coffee.
Far-fetched, maybe. The Alouettes have openly conceded that Manziel’s stay could be a short one, while Manziel hasn’t been shy about his plans to redeem himself south of the border.
But stranger things have happened, and the CFL is finally what’s giving Johnny Manziel what no one else would: the opportunity to play and thrive.
More in The Weekly Say.
What are the chances Johnny Manziel is an Alouette in 2020?
Johnny Manziel was acquired in a blockbuster trade, but will he stay beyond his two-year deal? (The Canadian Press)
Don Landry: Thirty-three per cent. I don’t think there’s ever been a doubt that Manziel’s end game has always been to get another shot in the NFL. If he plays well enough over the next season and a half, he’ll get that shot, as a still reasonably young man. And if he doesn’t play well enough, the Als might be parting company with him anyway.
Jim Morris: I’m guessing about 20 per cent. If Manziel plays well and stays out of trouble he will want to try the NFL again. If he fails to adapt to the CFL or strays back to his old ways, he’s not worth having on the roster.
Jamie Nye: Ten per cent. Here are the likely scenarios that play out for Manziel in Montreal: 1) He wins and is great. 2) He is okay but not exceptional. 3) He gets injured. 4) He’s below average or terrible. Many of these scenarios likely see him in the NFL, not re-signed by Als, or out of the league altogether. Manziel has a very good agent with the connections to get him another NFL shot if he’s at least contributing positively to Montreal. It’s very unlikely there is a future beyond 2019 in Montreal but never say never.
Marshall Ferguson: Ten per cent. Dude has goals that don’t involve Montreal. He knows it. We know it. Just embrace the ride for what it is while he’s here.
Matthew Cauz: Five per cent. If he plays great, an NFL team will give him a chance as there’s such a lack of quality QBs in the league. If he plays poorly, he’ll be sent to the Alex Brink home for failed Alouette quarterbacks.
Chris O’Leary: If all goes well, zero. He’s been clear about his intentions from the second he arrived in the CFL. He’s here for this season and next, fully looking at NFL opportunities after that. If he plays well here, he’ll likely convince at least one team to give him a shot.
Who do the Argos miss more: Ricky Ray, Corey Chamblin or DeVier Posey?
The Argos’ defence has struggled in the absence of Corey Chamblin, ranking last in yards per game (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Cauz: Posey. This team needs more game breakers to help Franklin.
Nye: I’m going off the board with Victor Butler Jr. The Argonauts were tied for top spot in the league in sacks last year and to start this season they are dead last in getting to the quarterback. A dynamic pass rush creates turnovers, stalls opposition drives and can put the offence in the a good spot. They don’t have that this year and Butler was their best last season.
O’Leary: Corey Chamblin. The personnel isn’t that different, but the defence certainly doesn’t have the look that it did last year. Chamblin was a renowned DC before he became a head coach and showed last year that he was still great in that coordinator role.
Morris: The Argos are struggling on both sides of the ball but I don’t think James Franklin’s numbers are that bad for a rookie quarterback. The Argos have some talent on defence so you wonder if having Chamblin would make a difference.
Landry: Corey Chamblin. It is a bit more complicated than saying just that, as Chamblin would have had some personnel changes to overcome had he stayed on as the Argos’ defensive coordinator. However, the Toronto defence was stellar under his command in 2017 and it is hard to imagine he wouldn’t have been able to continue that in some way shape or form this season. Chamblin had a superstar 2017, and while I’m sure he’d have been feeling the loss of players like Mitchell White, Rico Murray and Bear Woods as well this year, he’d already taken up his place as one of the CFL’s premier DCs.
Ferguson: I wish I had the answer, I just can’t pinpoint what the issue is in Toronto. I like James Franklin’s game and the defence just doesn’t seem to be able to execute, plus Posey leaving should’ve opened the door for Armanti Edwards to have a larger role and it just hasn’t. Need time on this one to see how things shake out.
Who would you rather have in their prime: Andrew Harris or Jon Cornish?
Andrew Harris has a chance to threaten Jon Cornish’s single-season highmark for rushing yards (The Canadian Press)
Cauz: Jon Cornish. Love Harris but Cornish is the best I’ve seen since Mike Pringle.
Ferguson: Andrew Harris is a monster in so many ways, but Cornish’s running style and acceleration were so unique. Slim margin of victory for Jon-ny run-the-ball.
Nye: Andrew Harris catches the ball a lot more than Cornish but this is Harris’ best year so far in terms of yards per carry at 6.4. Jon Cornish had four seasons where he averaged over 7.0 yards per carry. I know Cornish didn’t catch the ball and never once threatened a 1,000/1,000 season but Cornish did have over 2,100 yards one season thanks to 1,800 yards rushing. Harris is on pace for another 2K season. What I’m trying to say is… do I have to choose??? OK… Cornish…. I guess.
O’Leary: Harris. He’s been consistent for a longer stretch and is on the verge of putting up those peak Cornish numbers from 2012-2014.
Morris: I would go with Harris simply because of his pass catching ability. He also seems a little more athletic than Cornish.
Landry: Andrew Harris. That’s no slight on Jon Cornish either. My first reaction to the question was “I’m good either way.” But, you’re making me pick one, so, I’ll take Harris. And it’s because of his receiving totals. Harris has been, over his career, more of a threat as a pass-catcher than Cornish and that’s saying something because Cornish wasn’t exactly a slouch in that area. But the Stampeders used him more as a way to get from A to B in as straight a line as possible. Harris has been the complete dual threat and, incidentally, is on pace to do something very Cornish-like this year; rush more than 250 times and collect in the neighbourhood of 1,800 yards along the ground.
