CFL Won't Approve Manziel Deal For This Year
TORONTO (AP) - Johnny Manziel won't be kick-starting his pro football career in the CFL this season.
The league announced Thursday it won't approve a contract for the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner until next season, and only if he meets certain conditions stipulated by Commissioner Randy Ambrosie. Those conditions are confidential, the league said.
"After an extensive process of due diligence and an in-person meeting with Mr. Manziel, the Commissioner has decided that he will not register any contract for Mr. Manziel for this season. However, Mr. Manziel will be eligible to sign a contract for the 2018 season and, if Mr. Manziel meets certain conditions that have been spelled out by the Commissioner, the CFL will register that contract. The specifics of those conditions are confidential and will not be disclosed. The CFL has extended the stay on the expiry of the 10-day window for Mr. Manziel until Nov. 30, 2017 and therefore Mr. Manziel will remain on Hamilton's negotiation list until that date."
Manziel will be eligible to sign a CFL contract after the season.
Ambrosie met with Manziel earlier this week in Toronto.
The league also said Manziel will remain on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' negotiation list until Nov. 30. The club has until that time to try and sign Manziel to a future contract or trade him to another team.
(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)