NFL Notes: T.J. Ward, Johnny Manziel, Supplemental Draft

T.J. Ward

Free agent S T.J. Ward mentioned in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio that he was not given the opportunity to thrive with the Buccaneers and he still believes he’s a “top tier” safety.

“I wasn’t allowed to be the player I wanted to be last year and it hurt me. I’ve been a top-tier safety in this league since I entered and I’m continue to be till I exit. I’m ready to get back on the field and go,” said Ward.

Ward added that he did not get the playing time he expected when signing with Tampa Bay.

“Me personally, it didn’t go as planned. For whatever reason me and the coaching staff didn’t see eye to eye. I didn’t get the playing time I was expecting to get. It was just a tough year for me all the way around,” said Ward, via SiriusXM NFL Radio.

We have him featured in our Top 50 Available 2018 NFL Free Agents list.

Johnny Manziel

Hamilton Tiger-Cats HC June Jones said he’s been impressed with QB Johnny Manziel during his short time with the team and believes he should be playing in the NFL.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised the last three weeks what a good teammate he is, how smart he is, how he sees the game,” Jones said, via David Newton of ESPN.com. “He should be playing in the National Football League and I believe he will when he gets through with us.”

“It’ll take two years,” Jones said. “They’re [NFL executives, coaches] waiting to see that he’s taken care of his off-the-field problems. . . .

“He’s humble. He’s growing up every day.”

Supplemental Draft

• Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com believes there’s a “pretty decent chance” Western Michigan CB Sam Beal and Virginia Tech CB Adonis Alexander will be selected in this year’s Supplemental Draft.
• According to Breer, Beal and Alexander could’ve gone as high as the second or third round from a talent standpoint, but there are maturity concerns for both.
• As for Mississippi State S Brandon Bryant, Breer says he’d be surprised if Bryant was drafted.