According to a report in the Dallas Morning News, the XFL Dallas Renegades are passing on quarterback Johnny Manziel. Director of player personnel Daryl “Moose” Johnston said they are not interested.
Johnston, the former Dallas Cowboys fullback, said about Manziel;
“For me the chemistry in the locker room is critical, and especially the quarterback position. He kind of sets the tone, especially for the offensive side of the ball, but really for the whole team. There is so much added responsibility that goes with the face, goes with the voice of the franchise. And I haven’t seen that from Johnny on a consistent basis that I would feel comfortable committing to him.”
Johnston was the director of player personnel for the San Antonio Commanders of the AAF and passed on the controversion QB.
With the Renegades off the table, this leaves only one possible Texas XFL franchise interested in Manziel. That would be the Houston Ruffnecks. Their head coach June Jones spoke highly of Manziel in the past.
Jones was Manziel’s head coach briefly in the CFL before being traded from Hamilton Tiger-Cat to the Montreal Alouettes. He was later banned from the CFL for reasons unknown and signed with the AAF before the league folded in early 2019.
There is still a possibility of interest from one of the other six XFL head coaches. However, going into the inaugural XFL season, coaches will want to have a player who is accustomed to their system. Even better would be one they have worked within the past like Dallas Reneages head coach Bob Stoops and QB Landry Jones, who recently signed with the XFL. Aside from June Jones, none of the other six XFL head coaches worked with Manziel.
With the NFL pre-season about to close and no team interested in signing the QB, the XFL is his only real option. If Manziel’s is not part of the XFL draft, his career could be officially over unless he wants to play in the Arena Football League.
mal
August 27, 2019 at 10:17 am
Why wouldn’t June Jones reconnect with Manziel?
“I enjoyed every single day I had with coach Jones,” Manziel said Saturday at TriStar’s Show at Reliant Arena. “Being in his offense was the best part of each day. I know he’s going to be successful wherever he’s coaching.”
Hamilton traded him for two decent players and two first round draft picks (2020 and 2021) That’s a lot of value for a backup to a CFL all-star.
And I believe he was banned from the CFL because he was negotiating with the AAF. When the CFL gave him a chance he committed to being there. When he started looking at getting back to the states, they banned him. (At least that was the story). So, he wasn’t banned due to some on or off field antics or drugs or anything like that (as far as I know).
I’m not a big Manziel fan based on his history – but I do root for him to turn his act around, get it figured out and “man up” for his own sake.
Leslie I A Thompson
August 27, 2019 at 4:46 pm
Very nice ???? reply. I totally agree sir. Who wouldn’t want to come back home and play on you USA home turf. The ban was Johnny saying I don’t want to be here in the CFL. You hit it right sir. Let’s gooooo Johnny football….. . 😉
Leslie I A Thompson
August 27, 2019 at 8:39 pm
Very nice ???? reply. I totally agree sir. Who wouldn’t want to come back home and play on you USA home turf. The ban was Johnny saying I don’t want to be here in the CFL. You hit it right sir. Let’s gooooo Johnny football….. . 😉
Ray
August 27, 2019 at 1:23 pm
Should we be calling him Johnny on the spot now?