Hamilton Tiger-Cats have 10 days to trade, release or sign Johnny Manziel
By Cole Shelton
Johnny Manziel to the CFL may be happening sooner rather than later
The Johnny Manziel story to the CFL may be about to go down. Johnny Manziel like everybody knows is on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats negotiation list. The negotiation list is where CFL teams can put American players who don’t have CFL experience on and are the only team who can talk and work out that player.
But if a player wants to play in the CFL, that player can force the team’s hand by giving them 10 days to release, sign or trade the players rights. According to TSN’s Dave Naylor, Johnny Manziel exercised that right.
When a player is on a CFL negotiation list, he can force a team's hand to sign, trade or release his rights. That's what Manziel did to Ham.
— Dave Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) September 13, 2017
Not confirmed exactly when Manziel's reps pulled the 10-day clause but it has indeed been pulled. #CFL #Ticats
— Dave Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) September 13, 2017
To clarify what Ticats must do within 10-day window: offer Manziel a contract. Could be at league minimum, could be for just two seasons.
— Dave Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) September 13, 2017
Johnny Manziel's representatives have activated the 10-day window that forces the Ticats hand to offer him a contract, trade or release him.
— Dave Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) September 13, 2017
In theory, Ticats could offer Manziel league minimum and retain his rights. That'd buy more time to negotiate fair deal or trade his rights
— Dave Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) September 13, 2017
The Tiger-Cats desperately need a star though, and with starting quarterback Zach Collaros being benched. Meaning, Manziel could sign with Tiger-Cats and learn the CFL game and start the 2018 season and be the star Hamilton needs.
I never believed the Manziel-to-Hamilton story was dead. If it was they would have traded his rights or released them. #Ticats #CFL
— Dave Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) September 13, 2017
Ticats have tickets to sell for next season and want competition for starting QB job in 2018. Manziel would help with both.
— Dave Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) September 13, 2017
More than $$$, sticky issue between Ticats and Manziel could be length of contract. Ham may want to go beyond the two-year minimum. #CFL
— Dave Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) September 13, 2017
The Tiger-Cats now have 10 days to figure out what they want to do with Manziel, as it was reported a couple weeks ago they weren’t impressed with him in the workout. If they weren’t impressed with him Hamilton may look to try and trade him, and a logical option may be the Toronto Argonauts as they desperately need a star to sell tickets and a new quarterback. Many believe Argonauts starting quarterback Ricky Ray only has 1-2 years left and they need a quarterback to take over, and Manziel would be the perfect guy.
There will be more to come from this story but if Hamilton releases Manziel’s rights it will be interesting if another CFL team will pick him up. Most importantly, Manziel needs to show he can still play football, something he hasn’t done in a couple years. As well, Manziel will need to learn the CFL game, so three downs, longer field, more people on the field, moving receivers and bigger balls.
But if Manziel is up for the challenge and puts in work he could rejuvenate his career, and perhaps get some NFL looks again if he looks good in the CFL.