Johnny Watch: Day 15
Johnny Manziel says what a lot of first-time CFL players from the U.S. say about the short time between plays here.
“It is quick,” Manziel said Monday, of the 20 seconds allowed from the referee’s whistle before the ball must be put in play again. Although there are differences as to when the time count actually starts, it’s 40 seconds between plays in U.S. college and professional football.
“It’s not like anything I’ve ever done before,” Manziel said. “As it goes along, I’m sure we’ll have more comfortability with it, getting up to speed.”
Manziel will play in, and likely start, Saturday’s preseason game in Montreal, as Jeremiah Masoli will not play. Manziel will probably be the only one of the team’s five quarterbacks to play in both exhibition games.
June Jones graded Manziel “right in the middle, average” in his appearance against the Argos Friday, when he went 9-for-12 for 80 yards and scrambled well.
Manziel said he was gratified that former A&M teammates such as Edmonton star Derel Walker (who caught Manziel’s last college
pass) and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Mike Evans, had contacted him with congratulations after the game.
He also heard from former teammates with the Cleveland Browns and this year’s Spring League games.
Manziel’s wife, Bre Tiesi Manziel, was at Friday’s game and posted a picture on Instagram of her Ticat jersey with “Mrs. Manziel” on the name plate. She also wrote of how proud she was of her husband.
“It was kind of a last-minute decision for her to come up here,” Manziel said. “She wanted to see the start of what we finally got to. It’s been a long couple of years for both of us, with uncertainty and a lot of heartache and a lot of struggles. But to be where we’re at today, to finally have some clarity and finally have some peace in what’s going on in life, and some happiness, for her to be here supporting me, is above and beyond what I could ever ask for.”
TSN’s YouTube channel has had more than 600,000 views for Manziel’s first series, which started with just over three minutes to play in Friday’s opening half.