Johnny Manziel was content with his first time in a game in more than two years…
HAMILTON, Ontario — Johnny Manziel was content with his first time in a game in more than two years.
Manziel was 9-of-12 passing for 80 yards in his CFL debut as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats lost 36-18 to the Toronto Argonauts in an exhibition game Friday night.
« I felt like I was able to get in there and handle the situation well, get some completions and get the guys some balls, » Manziel said. « I really wasn’t nervous going into it, I was just kind of going out and letting the ball rip.
« Right now we’re still in preseason so we’ll get a little bit more tailor-made for the team and defense and what they do and scheme against them. I think that’ll help us moving forward. »
Manziel, playing for the first time since being released by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns in March 2016,, faced a Toronto defense that was missing most of its starters and Hamilton coach June Jones was very conservative in his play-calling. The six-foot, 210-pound Manziel, who signed with the Tiger-Cats two weeks ago, directed five drives (22 plays) and was especially effective throwing on the run.
But Manziel’s biggest complaint was receiving a 22-yard intentional ground penalty in the second half.
« That’s the worst call of the century, » Manziel said. « My whole life I’ve been taught to throw it right at the stick that’s marking the down…. I thought I got it there, he (official) told me I was about a yard short. That’s the first time I’ve heard of that, that’s new to me. »
So too was running to the locker room at halftime and being told there still was a final play to run despite the clock having run out.
« I’m still learning some things up here, » he said. « There’s going to be some of those growing pains. »
Hamilton, which played most of its starters, had seven turnovers in the first half — two interceptions, three fumbles and two on downs.
« Obviously you can’t turn the ball over like that and ever have a chance to win a game, » Jones said. « But he (Manziel) did some good things. He’s got a good game presence about him. He knew what was going on… he wasn’t rattled, he wasn’t flustered. Obviously he scrambled around and made a couple of plays. I think he’s going to get better and better every time he plays. »
Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, entered the game late in the first half and played much of the third quarter. The 25-year-old was solid on his final possession, engineering a 12-play, 62-yard drive that took 7:27 off the clock but also included the intentional grounding penalty.
Manziel threw for 80 yards and ran twice for 10 yards. However, Hamilton’s biggest play was Frankie Williams’ 73-yard punt return TD to end the third, cutting Toronto’s lead to 33-13.
Manziel, selected No. 22 overall in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft by Cleveland, appeared in 14 games for the Browns and was 2-6 in eight starts.
