Looks like Manziel will get his first start, against Hamilton
MONTREAL — All signs point toward Johnny Manziel getting his first Canadian Football League start for the Montreal Alouettes this week.
When the Alouettes reassembled for practice on Monday, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner took snaps with the first-stringers before last week’s starter, Vernon Adams.
Coach Mike Sherman would not confirm who his starter will be on Friday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but he told reporters to draw their own conclusions.
The obvious conclusion would be that Manziel starts, with Adams backing up.
“We didn’t trade for Johnny to have him sit on the bench, so obviously, Johnny’s come over here to get reps and become the best player he can become, and we started that process today,” said Sherman. “You probably all figured it out yourself, but when you have two players you wait till game time to make that announcement.
“It doesn’t make sense to do it any sooner.”
If he starts, Manziel will be the fourth starter and the fifth quarterback overall to play for Montreal (1-5) in six games this season. Both opening day starter Drew Willy and backup Jeff Mathews are injured, which prompted Alouettes GM Kavis Reed to swing a five-player deal with Hamilton to get Manziel, who had been cooling his heels behind Jeremiah Masoli since the start of the season with the Tiger-Cats.
Manziel was not made available to reporters on Monday.
Adams, who was released by Hamilton and signed for a second stint in Montreal on June 26, looked promising as the starter in last week’s 44-23 loss at home to Edmonton. The Alouettes matched a season high in points and could have had more if not for a dropped touchdown pass and three missed field goals.
But throughout the game, many fans at Percival Molson Stadium were calling for Manziel, who Sherman wisely kept on the sideline, not wishing to risk injury to an unprepared quarterback who had been acquired only four days earlier and had only two full practices with the team.
Some fans were upset because they’d bought tickets to see Manziel, so the pressure is on to get him into a game. But Sherman said he alone will decide who plays.
Receiver Adarius Bowman, acquired last week from Winnipeg, had his first practice in Montreal and should play.