After flaming out in the NFL years ago and the CFL just this week, the next stop on Johnny Manziel’s football journey could be a stint in the Alliance of American Football.
Manziel could be just what the upstart league needs: a familiar face who football fans will recognize and be interested in enough that they will want to tune in on Saturday and Sunday afternoons to watch play.
However, for that to happen, Manziel would have to be able to remain on the field, something his off-field struggles have oft prevented him from doing.
That being said, he’s an intriguing option for the AFF nonetheless.
“If talent-wise this is close, the negative of him is that there is drama with him and you are trying to win games and build a team,” AAF majority owner Tom Dundon told USA TODAY Sports. “The positive is that he brings in fans and attention.”
In a tweet after his release from the CFL, Johnny Football said he was looking forward to “exploring new options within the United States.”
One of those options is certainly the AAF, though nothing is imminent at this point. (His rights do already belong to an AAF team though, the San Antonio Commanders.)
“There won’t be any pressure by me to do anything in any way, shape or form,” Dundon said.
Drafted with the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 draft, Manziel was cut by the Cleveland Browns after just two seasons in the NFL. The Montreal Alouettes cut released him earlier this week for violating his agreement with the CFL and he was subsequently banned by the league.
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