Johnny Manziel’s CFL run was about as successful as his NFL one.
On Wednesday, the Montreal Alouettes announced they had released the previously troubled quarterback under curious circumstances — as Manziel has been banned from the league.
“The Montreal Alouettes have been directed by the Canadian Football League to terminate the player contract of international quarterback Johnny Manziel after it was found that he had contravened the agreement, which made him eligible to play in the league,” the team said in a statement.
“We are disappointed by this turn of events. Johnny was provided a great deal of support by our organization, in collaboration with the CFL, but he has been unable to abide by the terms of his agreement,” added GM Kavis Reed. “We worked with the league and presented alternatives to Johnny, who was unwilling to proceed.”
It is unclear what Manziel allegedly did to violate the agreement.
Manziel, who joined the CFL last spring, previously questioned the team’s faith in him back in September, after he had become available to play following a concussion.
“If the club had faith in me, I feel like I would be the guy, I feel like I would’ve been the guy after I came back from the concussion,” he said. “That hasn’t happened, so I need to continue to get out here. And it’s the hardest part about missing practice, I need these reps to try to leave as little doubt as possible in my ability to play.”
Since Manziel went north of the border, two American professional football options have emerged alongside the NFL. The AAF began earlier this month as a feeder league for the NFL and has respectable ratings through its first few weeks. Vince McMahon’s XFL is set to begin next February, and Manziel could give it the PR push it might need to gain interest against the AAF.
Manziel was dealt by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to the Alouettes last July. His first CFL start a month later was less than remarkable, with him throwing an interception on his second play.
The former Heisman Trophy winner, whom Cleveland selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, endured a number of troubles in the league, particularly his struggle with substance abuse. He hasn’t played an NFL snap since December 2015 and was released by the Browns shortly after.
Meanwhile, Manziel appears miles away from Montreal, geotagging Nobu Malibu in an Instagram story from Tuesday night. His wife, Bre Tiesi, did the same, as the couple celebrated their first anniversary.