According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats remain “keenly interested” in signing former Browns QB Johnny Manziel and feeling is mutual.
Florio explains that the Tiger-Cats are keeping a low profile right now after their failed attempt to hire former Baylor HC Art Briles and are fearful of making any other moves that could invite any other scrutiny.
On Wednesday, TSN reported that the Tiger-Cats brought in for a workout last week. However, the report added that they were unlikely to sign Manziel because there are “too many red flags” regarding the former first-round pick and they came away convinced he’s not ready to resume his professional career.
Tiger-Cats VP Kent Austin later released a statement that said they aren’t “interested in signing Johnny right now.”
Florio later reported that the Tiger-Cats remain “extremely interested” in signing Manziel to a contract, despite the earlier report and added that there’s “much more to the story.”
A few weeks ago, Manziel told Clay Travis of Outkick the Coverage that he could be open to coaching at some point if he’s unable to return to the NFL.
“I’d do something involved with sports. I can’t get away from it,” Manziel said. “I’ve had to ask myself that a little bit as of late over the past year, but at the same time I’d want to be involved in sports in some way, whether it’s coaching, whether it’s doing something like that. So I think that’d be my route.”
Manziel did say a month ago that he’s had a “couple conversations” with NFL teams about the possibility of continuing his career. Although, Mike Freeman spoke with two NFL officials who have said that it was actually Manziel’s representatives who contacted teams about a return, not the other way around.
Manziel received a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on recreational drug and wound up sitting out the entire 2016 season to focus on a return this year.
Manziel, 24, is a former first-round pick of the Browns back in 2014. He was in the second year of his four-year, $8,247,250 rookie contract when the Browns cut him loose at the start of the 2016 league year.
In 2015, Manziel appeared in nine games and thrown for 1,500 yards while completing 57.8 percent of his passes to go along with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Manziel also ran for 230 yards. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 31 quarterback out of 36 qualifying players that year.
We’ll have more regarding Manziel as the news is available.
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