Johnny Manziel makes CFL debut as Hamilton Tiger-Cats lose to Toronto Argonauts
Manziel signed for Canadian Football League side Hamilton Tiger-Cats in May
Saturday 2 June 2018 09:31, UK
Johnny Manziel threw for 80 yards in his CFL debut as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats lost 36-18 to the Toronto Argonauts in an exhibition game Friday night.
Manziel, playing for the first time since being released by the NFL's Cleveland Browns in March 2016, , faced a Toronto defense that was missing most of its starters and Hamilton coach June Jones was very conservative in his play-calling.
Manziel, who signed with the Tiger-Cats two weeks ago, directed five drives (22 plays) and was especially effective throwing on the run.
"I felt like I was able to get in there and handle the situation well, get some completions and get the guys some balls," Manziel said. "I really wasn't nervous going into it, I was just kind of going out and letting the ball rip.
"Right now we're still in preseason so we'll get a little bit more tailor-made for the team and defense and what they do and scheme against them. I think that'll help us moving forward."
His biggest complaint was receiving a 22-yard intentional ground penalty in the second half.
"That's the worst call of the century," Manziel said. "My whole life I've been taught to throw it right at the stick that's marking the down.
"I thought I got it there, [the official] told me I was about a yard short. That's the first time I've heard of that, that's new to me."
So too was running to the locker room at half-time and being told there still was a final play to run despite the clock having run out.
"I'm still learning some things up here," he said. "There's going to be some of those growing pains."
Hamilton, which played most of their starters, had seven turnovers in the first half two interceptions, three fumbles and two on downs.
Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, entered the game late in the first half and played much of the third quarter.
The 25-year-old was solid on his final possession, engineering a 12-play, 62-yard drive that took 7:27 off the clock but also included the intentional grounding penalty.
Manziel threw for 80 yards and ran twice for 10 yards. However, Hamilton's biggest play was Frankie Williams' 73-yard punt return TD to end the third, cutting Toronto's lead to 33-13.
Manziel, selected No 22 overall in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft by Cleveland, appeared in 14 games for the Browns and was 2-6 in eight starts.
