Johnny Manziel was once one of the most exciting prospects in the biggest football league in the world, but he is going to have to earn anything he gets with his new Canadian employer.
The CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats already have a starting quarterback, and he — like Manziel — once excelled at the collegiate level. While discussing the signing of Manziel on Saturday, Hamilton head coach June Jones made it clear that Manziel will not be handed the starting job, which currently belongs to Jeremiah Masoli.
“Let me tell you something right now, he’s got his work ahead of him to beat out Jeremiah,” Jones said, via Dan Barnes of the National Post. “He’s got a lot to catch up on, but he’ll spend the time to get that done. I know he will because he’s already learned that lesson.”
Masoli transferred to Oregon in 2008 from City College of San Francisco, and he spent two years as a starter before being kicked off the team for his involvement in a theft on campus. He led Oregon to a victory in the Holiday Bowl in 2008 and a berth in the Rose Bowl the following season, where the Ducks lost to Ohio State.
Manziel already knows he has plenty to prove, and the details of his contract with the CFL indicate he could be there for quite some time. If he’s unable to seize the starting job, his chances of ever playing in the NFL again will be even slimmer.
