Did Manziel work out for ‘Riders?
But website insists Saskatchewan broke CFL rules by checking out troubled ex-NFL quarterback
REGINA — Denials were flying fast and furious after Thursday’s online report that the Saskatchewan Roughriders had worked out former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Such a workout, which was first reported by Justin Dunk of 3downnation.com, would contravene CFL rules because the Hamilton TigerCats have Manziel — who won the 2012 Heisman Trophy while at Texas A&M — on their negotiation list.
Though Riders vice-president of football operations, head coach and general manager Chris Jones denied the workout did occur, Dunk and 3downnation.com stand behind the report.
“First of all, the report stands for itself,” Dunk said Thursday afternoon on CJME radio in Regina. “It’s still up on 3downation and it’s on the Hamilton Spectator’s site. Let’s get that out of the way, first and foremost. I like to deal with the facts and it did happen.”
Dunk understands why the Riders and Manziel’s representatives would deny a workout took place.
“There is no reason for the Riders to cop to this because obviously it’s going to result in some sort of discipline from the league,” Dunk told the radio station. “For Johnny Manziel, who is looking himself to get another shot in pro football and preferably the NFL, there are certainly lots of reasons for him to deny this as well.”
Dunk touched off Thursday’s firestorm when he reported that the Riders conducted a workout with Manziel on Jan. 27. Dunk added that Manziel had been on Hamilton’s confidential negotiation list since Sept. 9, 2012.
A CFL bylaw states that no team other than the rights-holder can contact, work out or negotiate with a negotiation-list player without receiving consent. Dunk reported that the Riders didn’t have permission from the Tiger-Cats to conduct a workout — one the Roughriders deny holding.
“The Saskatchewan Roughriders have not held or attended a workout involving Johnny Manziel,” Jones said in a media release. “With that, I will not be commenting further on the report.”
According to TSN’s Gary Lawless, Manziel’s representatives are also denying Dunk’s report. Lawless reported via Twitter that Denise Michaels, a spokesperson for Manziel, told the TSN insider that “her client did not work out for (the Roughriders) or for any (CFL) team.”
As well, the quarterback told TMZ. com “I have had no workouts with any team from the CFL.”
CFL director of communications Paulo Senra responded as such: “The Riders tell us that they did not work out Manziel. So at this point, it appears the report is false. Should other evidence come to light, we will deal with it accordingly.”
Lawless reported earlier Thursday that Jones told him the Riders were considering legal action after the report. In conversation with Lawless, Jones also said that there wasn’t any chance that a workout could have been conducted without his knowledge.
Dunk pointed out that the Riders have been disciplined by the CFL for infractions since Jones was hired by the team in December 2015.
In August, the Riders were fined $60,000 and had their 2016 salary cap of $5.1 million reduced by $26,000 for roster violations. An investigation by the CFL led to the league ruling that the Riders were practising with ineligible players. The league determined that players on the six-game injured list were practising and free agents were working out with players under contract.
Manziel, who was selected 22nd overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2014 NFL draft, has dealt with off-field controversy during his professional career. In November, Manziel reached a deal with prosecutors on a conditional dismissal of a misdemeanour domestic assault charge involving his former girlfriend.
The 24-year-old Manziel has also admitted to struggling with substance abuse. He was released by the Browns following the 2015 season.