The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CFL CUTS TIES WITH HEISMAN WINNER MANZIEL
Johnny Manziel’s time in the Canadian Football League is over.
The CFL terminated the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner’s contract with the Montreal Alouettes on Wednesday. The league also informed the eight other teams that it wouldn’t register a contract for Manziel if any tried to sign him.
The league said Manziel had violated an agreement that made him eligible to play in the CFL.
“We advised Montreal that Johnny had violated one of the conditions we had set for him to be in our league. And Montreal announced his release today,” CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in Vancouver. “We didn’t release the terms of those conditions then and we’re not going to do that now.
“We’re trying to do what we believe is in the best interests of the entire league. The conditions we set, we thought were the right ones. Those conditions have been violated and we feel it’s best, and Montreal feels it’s best, to let Johnny move on. And we think it’s best for our league that he do the same. And we wish him well.”
A post on Manziel’s Twitter account indicated he was already looking for other opportunities.
“I want to thank (Alouettes coach Mike Sherman), my teammates and the CFL fans,” Manziel tweeted. “My time there re-established my love for the game of football and the work that goes into it. I look forward to exploring new options within the United States.”
One option for the former Texas A&M star and onetime Cleveland Brown could be the Alliance of American Football, which kicked off its inaugural season earlier this month. Manziel said he was intrigued by the prospect of playing in either that or Xtreme Football League, which begins operation next year.
■ Eagles general manager Howie Roseman says the team will not use its franchise tag on quarterback Nick Foles and instead will let him become a free agent.
Roseman told reporters Wednesday in Indianapolis the decision came after Foles expressed his desire to become a starter during a recent meeting.
Foles was Carson Wentz’s backup each of the past two seasons but finished both seasons as the starter. He was the Super Bowl MVP after leading the Eagles to their first NFL title since 1960 last February. This year, the defending champs lost in the divisional round.
■ Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory was suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, the fourth time the troubled player has been banned by the league.
The suspension comes about seven months after Gregory was reinstated by Commissioner Roger Goodell following a lengthy process aimed at reviving his career. Gregory missed 30 of the 32 games over two seasons as a result of his first three suspensions.
Gregory had his best year in 2018, posting career highs with six sacks and 14 games. He was reinstated just before the start of training camp last year and was active for the season opener.
■ Despite missing all but three games in the 2018 season, Chiefs safety and Atlanta native Eric Berry isn’t having surgery on the sore heel that kept him sidelined for most of the year.
Asked about the status of Berry’s nagging injury Wednesday at the NFL combine, Chiefs coach Andy Reid told local reporters that Berry hadn’t had surgery since the season ended — and wasn’t expected to have any.
“I think it’s all positive,” Reid said of Berry’s status. “He didn’t have surgery. That’s not what he did. Or have to have surgery. That’s kind of where it’s at.”
■ The 49ers placed the franchise tag on kicker Robbie Gould, keeping him locked up for the 2019 season for a price tag of about $5 million. Gould has been the NFL’s most accurate kicker during his two seasons with San Francisco and could have been a target to return to the Bears if he hit the open market.
■ Wide receiver Michael Crabtree was released by the Ravens after being signed as a free agent one year ago. Crabtree caught 54 passes for 607 yards and three touchdowns in 2018 after totaling 25 scores in a three-year stint with Oakland.