ALS GO BACK TO MANZIEL
Pipkin loses job as QB starter
When Johnny Manziel was intercepted four times against Hamilton early last month in his Alouettes debut, he remained the starting quarterback — perhaps because the team didn’t know whether any better options existed.
But after Antonio Pipkin was intercepted four times against British Columbia last Friday in his fourth game as the starter, he won’t receive the same immunity.
The Als returned to practice Monday morning, and it became apparent almost from the outset that management was throwing Pipkin under the bus for the 32-14 defeat against the Lions — one in which the team failed to produce an offensive touchdown.
Pipkin was sacked seven times and two of his interceptions in the fourth quarter were returned for touchdowns, the first coming when Montreal trailed by four points.
After a two-hour workout Monday, head coach Mike Sherman did his best to make it appear Pipkin, the 23-year-old rookie, wasn’t being held culpable.
“Pipkin’s done a great job and is going to be a hell of a quarterback,” Sherman said. “He’s going to take a step back a bit, catch his breath. Things came on him fast.
“Pipkin has done a lot of good things. We didn’t play or coach well. It’s on all of us, not just him. But, unfortunately, he’s the one that touches the ball every play. We thought we’d shake it up.”
Manziel will start Friday night in Winnipeg. Perhaps this is the way things should have transpired all along, and perhaps nothing would have changed had Manziel not sustained a concussion Aug. 11 in Ottawa, creating the opening for Pipkin.
He went 2-2 as the starter, won a game on the road and passed for 300 yards against Toronto. But if the organization was seeking an opening to make the switch, Pipkin made it easy on them with his performance last week.
“This is above my pay grade and it’s not my decision,” Pipkin said succinctly.
When Vernon Adams got a start at home against Edmonton in late July, he made it clear he was only keeping the seat warm for Manziel, acquired July 22 in a blockbuster trade from the Tiger-Cats. But Pipkin has refused to be drawn into making similar controversial remarks, saying he’ll continue to prepare as though he’s starting and will remain a great teammate.
And, given the way the Als have performed this season while going through six quarterbacks, Sherman made it clear anything remains possible moving ahead.
If the Als (3-9) lose any more games, Sherman could decide to play Manziel exclusively or use the remaining contests to audition each of the remaining pivots.
“I think John deserves the opportunity to play this week, based on last week,” Sherman said.
“I think we have more than a couple good (quarterbacks).”
Manziel, who has lost both his starts, then missed most of practice last week with a stomach virus, expressed his frustration and disappointment over not playing.
Nobody in management has punished him, or will, for what he said, although Sherman said after last week’s game Manziel could have selected his words better.
And Sherman, on Monday, said Manziel’s statements had no bearing on this week’s decision. “He deserved an opportunity based on how the offence performed. Give him an opportunity to show what he can do,” Sherman said.
Manziel offered no apologies for last week’s comments, although he said he hoped it wasn’t misinterpreted.
“I know there was a lot made of what was said,” he said before pausing. “Anybody at any position, not getting a chance to play, it’s been a natural competitive spirit for me that comes out of me. I’m just a competitor wanting to get on the field, play and compete.
“That’s a huge part of what’s made me successful in the past, a huge part of who I am as a person. I hope I didn’t rub anyone the wrong way,” added Manziel, a former Heisman Trophy winner and first-round NFL draft choice.
“I don’t think I necessarily did anything wrong by saying I want to play ... to at least get the opportunity to go out and compete and earn that right. That’s what I was trying to stress, whether I said it in the right way or not.”
Adams, who suffered a foot injury against the Ticats and was placed on the six-game injured list, will be eligible to be activated next week, potentially further clouding Sherman’s thought process. Matt Shiltz remains the Als’ other healthy quarterback.
In other news, it appears Canadian linebacker Chris Ackie is ready to return from a hamstring injury that sidelined him two games.