MANZIEL FRUSTRATED AT LACK OF P.T.
MONTREAL – Johnny Manziel is back on the field with the Montreal Alouettes. But he’s still not playing. And that has the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback frustrated.
Manziel, who missed the past three practices with stomach flu, said he’d been available the previous two weeks after recovering from the concussion he suffered in his last start _ a 24-17 loss to Ottawa on Aug. 11. But he hasn’t played since then.
“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,” Manziel said Thursday. “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 and the way that I’m playing. I think that will just come with time.”
Manziel received IVs to replace fluids on Tuesday and Wednesday, and said he feels well enough to play Friday when the Alouettes host the B.C. Lions.
Antonio Pipkin is expected to start. Matthew Shiltz is the other quarterback on the Als’ roster.
“I hope this organization, I hope the people here haven’t lost faith in my ability to play, and I still get a chance to come back and get a chance to be in with the (starters) and play, because that’s what I came up here to do and that’s what I want to do,” Manzie said.
Manziel said what’s particularly frustrating is the Alouettes traded “half of an organization I feel like in terms of what they gave up to get me here.”
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats dealt the 25-year-old and offensive linemen Tony Washington and Landon Rice to Montreal on July 22 for Canadian defensive end Jamaal Westerman and receiver Chris Williams as well as 2020 and 2021 first-round picks.
Manziel, who made headlines across North America when he signed a two-year contract with Hamilton prior to the start of training camp, didn’t see any regular-season action backing up Ticats incumbent Jeremiah Masoli.
Manziel said he can’t help but see similarities in his current situation.
“That’s where maybe it’s a little bit lost on me, because I felt like I was brought in here to be a piece, had a lot of faith in me the first couple of weeks I was here … since I missed the games because of the concussion and then not getting to play once I was back has been frustrating for sure, because I felt like there was a lot of hope, and a lot of faith in me being the guy here,” he said. “How quickly that’s changed in two weeks is tough.”
Veterans Drew Willy, Jeff Mathews and Vernon Adams are all on the club’s six-game injured list.
Pipkin has led Montreal to consecutive victories and is 2-1 as the club’s starter. He has 762 yards passing with a TD and four interceptions while having rushed for 127 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries.
Manziel has started two games for Montreal, both losses. He has completed 27 of 46 passes for 272 yards and four interceptions.
Manziel served as Pipkin’s backup for the Alouettes’ 21-11 victory over the Redblacks on Aug. 31.
(Canadian Press)
