CFL: Ticats uncork opening pitch to QB Manziel before clock runs out
HAMILTON— The Hamilton TigerCats have made an offer to former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel and bought themselves more time to negotiate.
The CFL team issued a one-paragraph statement on Sunday afternoon to confirm an offer was made to the former Heisman Trophy winner. By doing so, the Tiger-Cats maintain his rights and prevented him from becoming a free agent.
“As per the negotiation list process, Johnny Manziel and his agent recently notified the Tiger-Cats that they had activated the 10-day window during which the Tiger-Cats must offer him a contract or lose his negotiation list rights,” the statement said. “That window closed today and we can confirm that we made an offer to Manziel, and that his rights will remain on our negotiation list while discussions with he and his agent continue. We will have no further comment.”
By making an offer to Manziel, he remains on the Ticats’ negotiation list for another year.
The 25-year-old American captured the Heisman in 2012 and was selected 22nd in the 2014 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. After posting a 2-6 record as the Browns’ starter, he was released in March 2016 and has been out of football since.
The Tiger-Cats re-signed quarterback Jeremiah Masoli last Thursday, one day after trading Zach Collaros to the Roughriders. Hamilton finished third at 6-12 in the East last year and missed the playoffs.
On Saturday, Manziel took a shot at his former clubs after hundreds of Browns fans held a parade following their winless season. Manziel shared an Instagram photo of him making his signature money gesture while wearing a Browns uniform, with the notation: “o-16szn.”
One comment on the post asked Manziel if he thought he’d still be in the NFL if he hadn’t washed out with the Browns in March 2016. His reply: “Nothing could have gone worse than it did in Cleveland.”
Manziel, nicknamed Johnny Football, also posted a photo of himself working out with the comment: “Just wait on it #ComebackSZN.”