UPDATE, 8:48PM: Manziel will officially be heading to the Memphis Express, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com (Twitter link). He’ll be playing for former 49ers coach Mike Singletary in Memphis.
7:14pm: Johnny Football is back. Johnny Manziel has signed a contract with the new upstart league the Alliance of American Football, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
This news comes a little over two weeks after Manziel was released by his CFL team. Schefter writes Manziel has “signed the Alliance of American Football Standard Player Agreement.” The AAF gives every player the same contract, for three years and $250K. It pays $70K in the first year, $80K in the second, and $100K in the third.
In a follow-up tweet Schefter writes that the San Antonio Commanders, the team who held Manziel’s rights based on where he played college ball, passed on signing him. Manziel will now enter the league’s waiver system, which will allow the team with the lowest winning percentage to submit a claim first and so on. The team currently with the lowest winning percentage is the Memphis Express, who currently has former NFLer’s Christian Hackenberg and Zach Mettenberger on the roster.
Manziel was a first round pick of the Browns back in 2014, but flamed out after just two seasons in the NFL. The former Heisman Trophy winner spent a while out of football, but has since been working on a comeback. His time in Canada didn’t go particularly smoothly, and now he’s looking to prove he can still play stateside.
The AAF offered him a workout shortly after he was cut by the CFL, and an arrangement between the two sides always made a ton of sense. Manziel will get a platform to showcase his abilities alongside a bunch of former NFL players as he tries to get back to the league, and the AAF will get a huge boost in visibility and interest.
Always the XFL next after he spudders out of this league
Don’t think so. XFL is not allowing players with conduct issues, unless it’s changed its policy.
Would you be surprised though? It is Vince after all..lol
What will last longer, the XFL or the rest of Manziel’s football career?
Between him, Russell and leaf…..who is the biggest bust? I’d still say Russell.
Leaf, because he truly had all the tools and still crapped it all away. Russell never had the Accuracy down and Manziel was all hype.
I don’t think you would be wrong with any of those answers.
Leaf for sure!
Manziel’s not even close to being as big a bust as those 2 were. He was picked 22nd overall whereas Russell and Leaf went 1 and 2 respectively. Leaf’s the biggest bust in NFL history!
Thank God for QB’s.
– Tony Mandarich
Russell sine he went first overall
Russell was 1st overall and got the most money. I’d say him.
Leaf. Russel was a bust before he was even drafted. Leaf had everything but fell apart as a pro.
Id say Leaf since he spent some time in a Montana penitentiary
Why is this news?
What a weird league.
Who gave him the tryout and scouted him, etc. if it was the league and not any of the teams that signed him?
Unlikely, but…what happens if none of the teams claim him?
Does he get the 250K to sit home for 3 years?
Oh man they have probably the most boring offense in the league, he will be trash if he starts. Probably going to back up Mettenberger honestly though.
Glad to see him get a chance to show his stuff
Kind of ridiculous that anyone is still refers to him by that stupid Johnny football nickname.
More like Johnny Idiot
Stop partying and focus on football.