Written by Jaclyn Hendricks at New York Post.com
Though it currently looks unlikely Johnny Manziel will get a second chance in the NFL, that’s not to say he’ll never touch the turf again.
Canadian Football League commissioner Jeffrey Orridge told ESPN he would be willing to offer the train-wreck quarterback a shot in the second-tier league — if he cleans up his act.
“We try not to speculate on situations like that, and I really can’t speculate too much on hypotheticals,” Orridge said. “But I can tell you that what’s paramount to us is ensuring the success of an athlete, while at the same time preserving and promoting the integrity of the league and the game.”
Manziel was cut by the Browns in March after two scandalous seasons with the club. He is awaiting trial in Texas on a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident with an ex-girlfriend. He also faces a four-game suspensionfor violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, which would affect his availability should he sign a free-agent deal this year.
“You all write about a day in my life and what goes on… here it is. No secrets, no hiding, I’m not what you read about. I’ll be back… In time. It can’t end like this… it won’t,” Manziel posted on Instagram last month.
There is a glimmer of hope for Manziel’s future in the CFL: He already is on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ negotiations list — meaning the team could sign him if the interest is mutual. Then Orridge said he likely would step in to ensure the Manziel era in Cleveland would not be repeated up north.
“I rely primarily on the assessment of the team,” Orridge said. “It is their charge to evaluate the talent and to bring that talent forward. To be candid, if there is a situation that we believe warrants additional input, we certainly want to provide that to the team. We’re obviously charged with making sure that the integrity of the league and the integrity of our brand is perpetuated.”
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