CFL commissioner clears Hamilton Tiger-Cats to sign Johnny Manziel

If Johnny Manziel wants to continue his professional football career by playing in the CFL next season, he is free to do so.

On Thursday, CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie announced that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats — the team that currently holds the rights to Manziel — are free to sign the former NFL quarterback.

“Since last summer, the Canadian Football League has been engaged in a thorough process to determine the eligibility of Johnny Manziel,” the CFL said in a statement, according to TSN. “This process has been conducted with the cooperation of Mr. Manziel and independent of the team which currently holds his CFL rights, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“It has included an ongoing assessment by an independent expert on the issue of violence against women, a review by legal counsel, and an in-person interview of Mr. Manziel conducted by the commissioner. As well, Mr. Manziel has been required to meet a number of conditions set by the league.

“As a result of this process, the commissioner has now informed Mr. Manziel and the Tiger-Cats he is prepared to approve a contract for Mr. Manziel should one be negotiated. The process that led to this decision does, however, continue. Mr. Manziel has been informed he must continue to meet a number of conditions in order to remain eligible. These conditions, while extensive and exacting, remain confidential.”

Manziel has not played football since 2015, but he has said numerous times that he is not giving up on his playing career. He recently had the assault charges filed by his ex-girlfriend dismissed after he met a number of court-mandated conditions. Manziel also has a long history with drug and alcohol abuse, but Ambrosie must be comfortable with how the 25-year-old is handling those issues.

If Manziel does end up signing with the Tiger-Cats, he may be thinking about trying to make an NFL comeback eventually. That still seems unlikely, but it would be a step in the right direction.