CFL gives Manziel another opportunity

The Canadian Football League has been a proving ground for a handful of quarterbacks who went on to star in the NFL.

Out of Left Field is written by Scott Adamson. It appears weekly and sometimes more frequently if he gets up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep. Follow him on Twitter @adamsonsl

Before Warren Moon was rewriting passing records in Houston and Joe Theismann was guiding Washington to a Super Bowl title, for example, they were playing – and starring – north of the border.

Sometimes, though, it works the other way.

Doug Flutie had a few highlight moments in the NFL, but had much greater success in the CFL and is one of the greatest signal callers in its history.

Thing is, playing QB under American rules is vastly different than running an offense that features 12 players to a side, lots of acreage and three downs to make a first.

Just ask Vince Ferragamo, who helped the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl appearance before chasing some Canadian coin. He thought he would be a superstar with the Montreal Alouettes, but never adjusted to the extra man in CFL secondaries and simply didn’t have the mobility to be effective as a dual-threat signal caller.

His one season was memorable only in the sense that he was a bust.

So where does Johnny Manziel fit in?

The Heisman Trophy winner out of Texas A&M has played a total of 14 NFL games over two seasons in Cleveland, throwing seven TD passes against seven picks.

Considering his limited action with the Browns, he isn’t so much an NFL “has been” as he is a “never was” (or maybe a “hasn’t yet”).

Now, though, the CFL is opening another door for “Johnny Football.”

The question is, will he open it, walk past it, or slam it in his own face by continuing to be a person who can’t get out of his own way?

The CFL has given the Hamilton Tiger-Cats – the team that owns the league’s rights to Manziel – its blessing to sign him up and the club began negotiations with him on Sunday.

“As per the negotiation list process, Johnny Manziel and his agent recently notified the Tiger-Cats that they had activated the 10-day window during which the Tiger-Cats must offer him a contract or lose his negotiation list rights,” reads a statement from the team. “That window closed (Sunday) and we can confirm that we made an offer to Manziel, and that his rights will remain on our negotiation list while discussions with he and his agent continue. We will have no further comment.”

When announcing its decision to allow Manziel an “in,” the CFL issued a lengthy statement – part of which mentioned his off-the-field controversies:

“It has included an ongoing assessment by an independent expert on the issue of violence against women, a review by legal counsel, and an in-person interview of Mr. Manziel conducted by the Commissioner. As well, Mr. Manziel has been required to meet a number of conditions set by the league.”

The CFL didn’t spell out the confidential conditions, but insists they are “extensive and exacting.”

Anyone who follows American football knows that Manziel has been his own worst enemy, which explains why the CFL statement is so bulky.

His drinking and partying have likely been a major detriment to his on-field woes, and the domestic violence issue made him toxic.

It’s ironic that he could join the Ti-Cats, the same organization that last season gave a job to disgraced former Baylor coach Art Briles before rescinding the deal (at the behest of the CFL).

Briles, you remember, was fired by Baylor amid reports of rampant sexual assault allegations against athletes and an “above the law” culture within the program during his tenure.

Hamilton took a big PR hit for the move and has spent the months since repairing its image.

In this instance the Ti-Cats have done their homework, but what if they sign Manziel and he reverts to his “old” ways?

He was charged with domestic assault during an altercation with his girlfriend in 2016, and that charge has now been dismissed after he completed an anger management course and met other conditions mandated by the court.

That’s all well and good, but you can’t put the genie back in the bottle.

The fact that the charge has been erased doesn’t mean the stain has disappeared.

Physically, of course, Manziel has uncommon tools. There were times at A&M he seemed like an Xbox player in human form.

But while he enjoyed the money provided by signing a pro football contract, he didn’t care for the responsibilities that came with it.

Now, however, the CFL and Hamilton is offering a shot at redemption.

There will be a lot less cash involved, but his skillset is perfect for the CFL and could result in some dynamic moments in North America’s other major professional football league – if he can beat out presumptive starter Jeremiah Masoli.

Masoli took over as starter for Zach Collaros last season, and Collaros has been traded to Sasketchewan.

“I think he’d be the best player to ever play up here,” Hamilton coach June Jones told CFL.ca last month. “He can throw it and he can run it like nobody ever has been able to do.”

Should Manziel make the most of his chance, he might become a CFL legend – or make it back to the NFL.

Yet if he squanders this opportunity, it very well could be the last one he gets.

It’s all up to Johnny Football now.

 

Rooting for the Rams is a blast from the past

Got some breaking news here: The National Football League team that I root for – the New York Jets – will not be participating in the upcoming playoffs.

Out of Left Field is written by Scott Adamson. It appears weekly and sometimes more frequently if he gets up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep. Follow him on Twitter @adamsonsl

Seems a 5-11 record wasn’t quite good enough for Todd Bowles’ crew to sneak into a wildcard spot, so I get to play adopt-a-team for yet another postseason.

Most recently, the Atlanta Falcons have served as my “silver medalists.” By that I mean they were the team I cheered for when I wasn’t cursing the misfortune of the Jets.

It was fun following them all the way to the Super Bowl a year ago; it was not quite so fun seeing them deliver the choke of the century against New England. It was especially hard to swallow against the Patriots because, you know, that Jets thing.

Therefore, with Atlanta taking on the Los Angeles Rams tonight in an NFC wildcard game, it is safe to assume I’ll again be donning the red and black and hoping Matt Ryan gets his MVP swagger back.

Safe, but incorrect.

Now that the Rams are back in L.A., it allows me to return to the rooting interest I established in the Stone Age – back when there was both an American Football league and National Football League.

As a kid, I liked the AFL better than the NFL. It was more high-scoring and more fun, and with the Jets featuring guys like Joe Namath, Don Maynard, Matt Snell, George Sauer and Emerson Boozer, they quickly became the team I lived and died with.

But, the NFL was still the senior circuit, so I couldn’t and didn’t ignore it.

And even though I had some affection for the Green Bay Packers – my dad’s favorite team – the NFL club I claimed for my own was the Los Angeles Rams.

Deacon Jones was the defensive player I admired most in all of football, and QB Roman Gabriel had his own brand of “cool.” Bernie Casey and Jack Snow, of course, were great receivers.

Plus, they had those cool blue helmets with white horns.

Thus, in the two-league era, my teams were the Jets and the Rams, with the Shea Stadium tenants my overall faves.

After the merger, the Rams continued to be my “backup” team, and held that status until 1994.

That’s when they moved to St. Louis and that’s when I completely stopped caring about them.

Nothing against the Independent City – I’m sure it’s populated by fine people. But just as the Colts aren’t really the Colts unless they’re in Baltimore and the Raiders were never the Raiders when they were in L.A. (and certainly won’t be in Las Vegas), NFL teams whose mascot is an intact male sheep should call Southern California home.

But now they’re back, and while I know the folks in Missouri were heartbroken to see them leave, I was quite happy to have “my” Rams once again working and playing in the City of Angels.

And it turns out the 2017-18 season has been a good one to jump back on the bandwagon.

They won the NFC West with an 11-5 record and have the best young coach in the game in Sean McVay.

(McVay, by the way, is the grandson of John McVay, who coached the Memphis Southmen of the World Football League. I’m a WFL aficionado, so this family tie has special meaning for me).

The Rams also feature rushing sensation Todd Gurley, who I covered in college when he played at Georgia, and QB Jared Goff, who has been simply outstanding in his second pro season and first as a full-time starter.

And being a guy who likes offense, the fact that L.A. leads the NFL in scoring at 29.9 points per game has made it quite easy for me to transition back to rooting for the Rams.

So while Jets management is trying to figure out what long snapper to take in the first round of draft on April 26, the Rams will host the Falcons today at 8:15 p.m.

And that means I have a postseason clash to get excited about.

That being said, I want to thank Atlanta for giving me the opportunity to rock red and black for the last two decades plus. I’ll always hold a soft spot in my heart for you guys. And hey – if you win this evening, I’ll be in your corner for the rest of the playoffs.

Still, I really do look better in blue.

For years, the L.A. Rams pennant in my Fan Cave was memorabilia from a team that no longer existed. Now they’re active once more.

 

 

 

 

Keeping New Year’s resolutions? It’s easy

We’re now five days into a new year, so how are your resolutions going?

Brain Farce is an alleged humor column written by Scott Adamson. It comes out basically whenever he feels like writing it. Follow him on Twitter @adamsonsl

I’m guessing by this point some of you have already backed off your big plans to better yourself, and that’s not uncommon.

Too many times we make resolutions we simply can’t keep.

“Oh,” you say, “I’m going to quit stealing Jenna’s tuna salad from the break room fridge,” or “this is the year I stop cooking meth in my car.”

That’s crazy talk.

Instead, you should set attainable goals.

That’s what I do every Dec. 31, and I honestly can’t remember the last time I was unable to keep every single one of them.

The key is to sit down, make a list – a realistic one – and stick to it.

And to help you do just that, I’m going to share my 10 resolutions for 2018. And if you decide to adopt any and all of them for yourself, well, I’ll be flattered.

 

I will not ask anyone if they are “ready for Christmas”

This is a resolution you do not have to concern yourself with until the final two months of the year. Still, why does anyone ask this ridiculous question?

What would happen if we weren’t ready for Christmas? Would Christmas not come?

Of course not.

Christmas will be here every Dec. 25, ready or not. And I will not ask you if you are ready for it because it doesn’t matter and I don’t care.

Now Stephen Foster Memorial Day on Jan. 13 is another story.

There’s really never enough time to prepare for that.

 

I will not invade Iceland

This is far and away the easiest resolution to keep. Iceland is a long way from where I live and, to the best of my knowledge, no one in Iceland has ever offended me in any way.

Plus, I’m not a weapons guy. I have a Louisville Slugger baseball bat in the closet somewhere and a big wooden spoon, but nothing that would allow me to successfully subdue an entire people.

So, Iceland is safe from me.

Finland, however, might need to be on alert in 2019.

 

I will not watch an episode of “American Idol”

Never have, never will.

Karaoke is for drunks who feel the need to sing at dive bars. I did this once and the song I chose was a censored version of “Murder Was The Case” by Snoop Dogg.

Still haven’t quite lived that one down.

Anyway, “American Idol” is just televised karaoke, so I’ll take a hard pass.

 

I will not wear a tank top

Since I do not live in a  mobile home with a Confederate battle flag flying high above it; plan to star in a remake of the 1980 film “Cruising”; or play intercollegiate or professional basketball, there is no need for me to wear a tank top.

The danger of such an occurrence is nil.

 

I will not take in a poison dart frog as a pet

Sure they’re cute and colorful, but what the hell am I going to do with a poison dart frog? They’re only one-half to 2 inches long yet contain enough poison to kill 10 grown men.

Besides, I can’t think of 10 grown men I want killed at the moment. OK, maybe I can, but that’s a dark place I’ll steer clear of (to the best of your knowledge).

 

I will not watch any movie by Joel Schumacher with a comic book theme

To date he has done only one, the unholy abomination that was “Batman and Robin.”

I doubt he has plans to do another but if he changes his mind, I have a Louisville Slugger and wooden spoon at the ready.

 

I will not skydive

Jumping out of a plane?

You gotta be out of your freakin’ mind.

 

I will not order tater tots at Krispy Kreme

Only because they don’t sell ‘em.

 

I will not hunt or fish

I’m a vegetarian, but I’m not militant about it. I get that people like meat, and human beings have teeth designed to tear into meat.

Yet even when I was a flesh-eater, I never had any desire to go off in the woods and kill something.

I have fished, but never enjoyed it. Frankly, I don’t think the fish did, either.

 

I will not eat feta cheese

Why won’t I eat feta cheese?

I don’t know … why won’t you eat a raw goat scrotum?

Feta cheese is basically barf in crumble form. Not only do I not want it in my food, I don’t want in in my neighborhood.

Put another way, I’d rather eat potluck from a dumpster that this odious vermin vomit.

Anyway, I hope this helps as you navigate the rough waters of 2018 resolutions. And always remember … if you expect nothing from yourself, you’ll rarely be disappointed.