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Johnny Manziel has been traded from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to the Montreal Alouettes: one of only two teams in the CFL with a 1-4 record.
In addition to the former Heisman Trophy winner, offensive linemen Tony Washington and Landon Rice were sent to Montreal in exchange for defensive end Jamaal Westerman, wide receiver Chris Williams and first-round picks in 2020 and 2022.
Manziel — still somehow just 25 — never even played for Hamilton as he was stuck behind probable MVP Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli, the former University of Oregon quarterback, tied a CFL record with nine straight 300-yard passing games before the team’s Week 5 bye this season.
via ESPN:
Manziel, 25, never saw the field for Hamilton, which has been led by quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli tied a CFL record with nine straight 300-yard passing games before the team’s Week 5 bye.
Manziel will play for first-year Alouettes coach Mike Sherman, who recruited him to Texas A&M in 2011 as the Aggies’ head coach. Manziel redshirted in 2011 and went on to win the Heisman Trophy the following season under new coach Kevin Sumlin.
“This is a move both Kavis Reed and I felt we needed to make at this time,” Sherman, the former Green Bay Packers coach, told the Montreal Gazette. “Neither one of us believes in the status quo and felt we needed to shake things up. Johnny is someone we believe can elevate one of the most important positions on our team.”
Hopefully, Manziel is exactly what the Alouettes need as they ranked dead last in the CFL in points scored.
Besides, whether he plays or not, Johnny Football is doing just fine: According to Jason La Canfora, Manziel has a base salary of $122,000 that went with a $10,000 signing bonus and an $18,000 housing stipend.
