Johnny Manziel is returning to the ranks of professional football this summer.
The former Cleveland Browns quarterback signed a two-year contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League on Saturday, the team announced. The Tiger-Cats held Manziel's exclusive rights and were considered his best option back into football after he was out of the sport for two years.
"We're excited to add Johnny Manziel to our roster, particularly getting it done now so that Johnny can join his new teammates and the coaching staff for a full training camp," Tiger-Cats Coach June Jones said. "We feel like we've got an excellent group of quarterbacks, and the addition of Johnny only improves our football team in our pursuit of the ultimate goal, which is to win a Grey Cup Championship."
"Getting back to playing ball -- that's what it comes down to," Manziel said in a video tweeted by Barstool Sports. "It's something that I miss doing. Big day for me. I'm no longer unemployed, getting back to what I love to do, and I'm happy about it."
Manziel, 25, hasn't played professional football since his release from the Cleveland Browns after the 2015 season. The former Heisman Trophy winner, who was drafted 22nd overall by the Browns in 2014 after a standout career at Texas A&M, was cut by the Browns while under investigation for domestic assault against his former girlfriend. He later reached a deal with prosecutors for conditional dismissal of the charge.
Over the past six months, Manziel has worked on getting his career restarted. He took part in multiple workouts in front of NFL scouts and played two games last month in The Spring League.
The Tiger-Cats open training camp today. They start the regular season June 16 against Calgary.
"I sit back today and have a multitude of regrets in my life," Manziel told NFL.com after throwing in front of NFL scouts at the Texas A&M pro day in March. "I got lost in a lifestyle, got caught up in the wrong things."
Royal attendees
Serena Williams was among the celebrity guests who made a splash arriving at the royal wedding Saturday morning.
Williams, who is a friend of Meghan Markle's after the two met in 2010, posted shots of herself on Instagram getting ready "super early" for the big day. Williams was accompanied by her husband Alexis Ohanian.
Before the ceremony, cameras showed Williams chatting with actor Idris Elba inside St. George's Chapel. She was seated next to actress Abigail Spencer, a co-star of Markle's on Suits.
The tennis star is expected to play in the French Open later this month, the first major championship she'll enter since giving birth to the couple's baby girl in September. The first round begins May 27.
Soccer star David Beckham and his wife Victoria also were on hand for the royal nuptials. The couple also were in attendance for the 2011 wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton.
QUIZ
How many touchdowns did Johnny Manziel throw for in 15 games with the Cleveland Browns?
ANSWER
Manziel threw for seven touchdowns with the Browns from 2014-2015.
Sports on 05/20/2018