The C. F. L. ordered the Montreal Alouettes to cut Manziel, the former Heisman Trophy winner, and barred any of its other teams from offering him a contract.
Quarterback Johnny Manziel’s brief foray into the Canadian Football League ended abruptly on Wednesday when the league instructed the Montreal Alouettes to terminate Manziel’s contract for an undisclosed violation of terms and then barred any of the league’s other teams from signing the former Heisman Trophy winner.
The Alouettes released a statement explaining that it was following orders from the C. F. L. to cut Manziel, 26, “after it was found that he had contravened the agreement which made him eligible to play in the league.”
“We are disappointed by this turn of events,” the Alouettes’ general manager, Kavis Reed, said in a statement. “Johnny was provided a great deal of support by our organization, in collaboration with the C. F. L., but he has been unable to abide by the terms of his agreement. We worked with the league and presented alternatives to Johnny, who was unwilling to proceed.”
Reed told reporters in Montreal that the Alouettes had cut Manziel only because of the C. F. L. order.
“No sir,” Reed said. “Mr. Manziel’s performance on the field showed that he had a very good upside.
