Texas A&M
HAMILTON — The latest and likely the most exciting chapter begins in the Johnny Manziel saga, after the quarterback announced Saturday he’s signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Earlier in the off-season, in an exclusive interview with TSN’s Dave Naylor (watch the interview in its entirety right here), Manziel opened up about the process, his expectations and his thoughts on the three-down game.
Here are some highlights from the interview:
On watching the CFL, and initial thoughts on the Canadian game
“I did watch a lot of games (last year), or as many as I could being in the states. I do read a little bit here and there to see where certain guys have gone. I have friends that have played up there — Brandon Zylstra, Bryant Mitchell, Derel Walker, Dakota Prukop. I watched the Grey Cup. Slowly but surely last year I started watching a little bit more because it was looking like more of a reality. I have a lot of respect for that league. I’ve talked with all my boys that have been up there. It’s no slouch league, it’s no joke . . . I think it’s a high enough level to where I can go in, if I do decide to do that, and compete at it and have fun doing it.”
On having the humility to not only compete but learn the intricacies and nuances of a different game
“1,000 per cent I do. I’ve been humbled in the process as far as what’s happened to me the last two years. I went from a nobody to the Heisman Trophy stage to the very bottom, as low as I can get in my life. If I decide to go play in the CFL, I’m not expecting or wanting anybody to hand me a starting job. I understand there are going to be growing pains and there’s going to be sweat and a lot of hard work to get to where I want to be. I don’t want anything handed to me. I realize the situation I’ve put myself in, how hard it’s going to be to get myself back somewhere, and just because I’ve had the opportunity to play in Canada doesn’t mean it should be handed to me and I don’t want it to be. I don’t want it to be that way. I want to work and earn everything that I have coming my way.”
On the familiarity with Head Coach June Jones
“(June Jones) is a guy that recruited me, a guy that we played against and a guy that we’ve met with since he’s been in Hamilton, and I got a chance to work out for him and thought it was a good day. I feel like I’m light years beyond what I was when I was throwing for them in the past. I’ve been doing nothing but working out since I went and met with those guys . . . It’s really cool to have a couple former coaches that are up there in the league that I’m familiar with, and Coach Sherman being in Montreal.”
On what’s next in the process
“It’s going to be fun to see how everything plays out. I’m sitting here today just as curious and with just as many question marks as you. I can sit here today and say I’m happy, I feel like I’m doing really well in life. I’m learning things as I go but I feel like I have a good regimen and a good foundation for what I want to do moving forward.”
