Johnny Manziel Will Try Doug Flutie Route Back to NFL
By Erik Lambert
Johnny Manziel did everything he could to entice the NFL that he’s ready for a comeback. In the end, nobody was ready to stake their reputation on him.
Manziel did and said the right things. He was open and honest about the mistakes he’d made in the league when he was with the Cleveland Browns. He worked tirelessly to get in shape. He even made multiple appearances at college pro days and participated in the new Spring League. It’s hard to say if any teams were genuinely interested, but he had their attention if nothing else.
It wasn’t enough. Now Manziel has a choice to make. It’s clear he wants to continue his football career and seems determined to get back into the NFL someday. However, with no doors open to him at this time, he has to consider other options. The Canadian Football League has been in pursuit of the 25-year old for quite some time. Manziel had resisted their advances amidst his attempts to woo the NFL. With the latter option a bust, he’s had a change of heart.
Per source, Johnny Manziel is actually at the Canadian border near Buffalo now getting a work permit. Will report to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats today. Press conference this afternoon, team meeting tonight, first practice tomorrow.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 19, 2018
Manziel is made for the CFL and could turn into future opportunities
Truth be told this could be the best thing for Manziel. The Canadian league is different from the NFL. The fields and end zones are wider and the passing game is dominant due to fewer downs. This makes mobiles quarterbacks all the rage, and size is also far less of a concern. No quarterback proved that more than Doug Flutie. The CFL Hall of Famer was a titan north of the border, winning multiple MVPs and Grey Cups between Calgary and Toronto.
Manziel could end up being even more successful given he’s bigger than Flutie was with even more natural playmaking skill. He also could take advantage of what the CFL experience did for Flutie. Not only did it elevate his football standing, it also improved his credibility amongst NFL critics. Maybe not a lot, but enough to get him one last opportunity. After eight years in Canada, he signed a contract with the Buffalo Bills in 1998. After finally getting on the field, he led the team to the playoffs and went to the Pro Bowl.
Next: NFL Teams and Their Most Likely 2018 Award Winners
If Manziel can excel in the Canadian league and more importantly stay out of trouble during that time? It stands to reason he might be offered the same opportunity as Flutie was 20 years ago.