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Former Cleveland Browns QB Johnny Manziel traded from Hamilton Tiger-Cats to Montreal Alouettes

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has been traded from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to the Montreal Alouettes.

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is on the move once again.

Just months into his tenure in the Canadian Football League, Manziel was traded Sunday from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to the Montreal Alouettes, along with offensive linemen Tony Washington and Landon Rice in exchange for Montreal’s first-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 CFL drafts, as well as defensive lineman Jamaal Westerman and wide receiver Chris Williams.

During his tenure in Hamilton, Manziel was behind Jeremiah Masoli on the depth chart, playing in only two preseason games, where he completed 21 of his 31 attempts (67.7 percent) with one touchdown and ran for 19 yards on six carries.

“We have acquired an exceptional quarterback with undeniable talent,” said GM Kavis Reed told the Alouettes’ website. “With his great mobility, his athletic abilities and his instinct, we believe that he will have a positive impact on our offence.”

Credit: Peter Aiken
Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns avoids the tackle of Ron Parker #38 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium during the fourth quarter of the game on December 27, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Because of injuries and struggles along the offensive line, the Alouettes have been unable to get consistent play out of the quarterback position for the first six weeks of the season, and currently, they are tied with the Toronto Argonauts (1-4) for third place in the CFL’s East Division.

A first-round pick of the Browns in the 2014 NFL Draft, Manziel had a dramatic and tumultuous tenure in Cleveland, one filled with off-the-field partying that was well documented on social media, and more recently, domestic issues that resulted in legal troubles.

In 14 games over two years with the Browns, Manziel completed 147 of his 258 throws for 1,675 yards and seven touchdowns against five interceptions, and did not only miss a Sunday morning appointment as part of the NFL Concussion Protocol, but also, exercised an option to skip the 28-12 season-ending loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on January 3, 2016.

Following his release, Manziel spent the better part of nine months dealing with domestic violence charges, which required him to meet certain requirements, including anger management education and entering the NFL’s substance-abuse program.

Additionally, before signing a contract with the Tiger-Cats, Manziel had to meet personally with CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, who had concerns about the off-the-field issues that persisted in Cleveland.

As a freshman at Texas A&M in 2012, Manziel threw for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns against nine interceptions while completing 295 of 434 attempts on the way to becoming the first freshman ever to win the Heisman Trophy.

Then, as a follow-up to his Heisman campaign, Manziel completed 300 passes for 4,114 yards with 37 touchdowns against 13 interceptions and was sacked only 19 times in leading the Aggies to nine wins in 2013.

By being traded to Montreal, Manziel has been reunited with the very man credited with recruiting him to Texas A&M, current Alouettes head coach Mike Sherman.

The new-look Alouettes are back in action Thursday night, when they host the Edmonton Eskimos at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium on the campus of McGill University.

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