Manziel focused on first win with Als, not loss to Argonauts
Mike Sherman insists there was nothing sinister behind replacing Johnny Manziel, his starting quarterback, for the game’s final play last Saturday in Toronto.
And Manziel, who continues seeking his first victory as a starter, said nothing should be read into his decision to run off the field when the game ended, rather than shaking hands with any Argonauts players.
Manziel was replaced by Antonio Pipkin for the final play of Montreal’s 26-22 defeat. The ball was on the Toronto 48, following an intentional-grounding call, requiring a Hail Mary pass. Pipkin was inserted because he had fresh legs and Sherman knew the quarterback would have to buy some time with his feet, allowing the receivers to get to the end zone. Pipkin ended up getting sacked.
But it was Manziel who had played virtually the entire game. He was responsible for getting the Als to that position. If Sherman was guilty of anything, he said, it was not informing Manziel early enough of his decision.
“To me, that play’s all about having fresh legs,” Sherman said following Tuesday’s practice. “If you have a guy on the sideline with fresh legs that can make guys miss and run around, you have to buy some time. Particularly the distance that it was. I wanted someone to run around and try to make a play and throw it up.
“It had absolutely nothing to do with arm strength; he (Manziel) can throw. I want a guy with fresh legs. I thought it was a good decision. I didn’t know I’d have to defend it so much.”
Manziel continued to defend Sherman’s decision before quickly adding it wasn’t his call. Besides, had there been any problem Manziel, who was recruited to Texas A&M by Sherman, said the two would have discussed it later. Manziel said he didn’t leave before the game ended, nor was he upset to be replaced. He denied he displayed any lack of respect toward the opposition.
The same two teams meet again Sunday afternoon at Molson Stadium in the Als’ final home game this season.
“I have a multitude of friends on that team, guys I do interact with,” Manziel said. “That wasn’t the time for me to sit there, look somebody in the face and be fake. I’m not going to go up to somebody and say ‘good game’ when I don’t feel like they had a good game.
“I don’t feel like they deserved to beat us. I feel like we beat ourselves. No disrespect to Toronto. They won. I was upset with the outcome. You don’t always shake hands every single time.”
Had Boris Bede not missed a 39-yard field goal with fewer than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Als would have required only a field goal in the final seconds to secure a victory. Instead, the miss — his second of the game — resulted in a single.
Earlier in the quarter, Bede’s poor 34-yard punt, combined with a no-yards penalty, gave Toronto possession at the Montreal 54, eventually resulting in a field goal, pulling the Argos to within two points, 21-19.
Bede punted four times in the game, averaging 41.3 yards, while Toronto’s Zack Medeiros averaged 44.8 yards on his four punts. And Drew Brown connected on all four of his field goal attempts.
Coincidentally, Tuesday’s practice ended with Bede attempting field goals with his teammates huddled around, attempting to distract him.
Bede refused to talk following the game. On Tuesday, he appeared reluctant to answer questions and did so only in French, acknowledging the missed field goals while stating he was prepared to move on and wouldn’t let it affect him.
“I don’t mind it when (Bede) doesn’t talk,” Sherman said Tuesday. “Should he have talked? Yes. He should have owned up to his situation. I think you have to talk.”
Manziel spoke after his first start against Hamilton — a game in which he was intercepted four times. Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker went to the podium, no less, after his missed extra point cost the Ravens in last Sunday’s one-point loss to New Orleans.
While Manziel completed 23 of 30 passes against the Argos for 220 yards, he has yet to win one of his six starts for Montreal. And he continues being asked about his record. The Als produced only one offensive touchdown on Saturday, right before halftime, when Manziel directed the team on a six-play, 75-yard drive.
“I felt the ball was coming out nice. I made some good reads,” he said. “But it’s so much more than that. I want to win.”
Meanwhile, defensive-back Jermaine Robinson suffered a hand injury near the end of practice, but Sherman said he’ll be fine. Robinson was replacing Greg Reid, who replaced the injured Dominique Ellis against Toronto.