Tag: CFL

Johnny Manziel will continue his football career in the Fan Controlled Football league

He’s back.

Johnny Manziel’s football career will continue, though not in quite the same way we’ve seen in the past.

Manziel will make the fourth stop in his pro football career with the Fan Controlled Football, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.

FCF — a start-up football league — combines the sport with elements of esports. It’ll be quite different from the conventional football games he’s played in. The league features 7-on-7 games where fans do everything from setting the roster and lineups to calling actual plays. The league begins in February and games will be streamed on Twitch.

Manziel said he wasn’t trying to return to football anytime soon, but was convinced by the league’s founders to join.

“Life gives you opportunities sometimes to do something that you would still like to do if it was in a different capacity. This has a lot of potential to just be a good time and still be football-centric. They’re going to let the people [who] join this league be who they are and have fun with it and be a little bit more free than what football is sometimes. That’s definitely what appealed to me. They don’t want me to change who I am or anything else. They want to come out, put a good product out and be fun with it.”

This is the fourth stop in his pro football career. Here’s a quick look back at the first three.

CFL linebacker charged with attempted murder in Pittsburgh

Jeffrey Knox Jr. of the Toronto Argonauts is wanted on multiple charges.

A difficult story out of Pittsburgh on Sunday as current Toronto Argonauts linebacker — and former NFL practice squad player — Jeffrey Knox Jr. has been charged with attempted murder.

Knox, who went undrafted in 2014 after playing college ball at California (Pa.), is being charged with two counts of attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, as well as endangerment and firearms violations.

Knox spent time with Tampa Bay, Washington, and Tennessee on their practice squads.

Per Thestar:

Pittsburgh police responded to 911 calls Oct. 23 for two men shot in the city’s South Side Flats area. Police reports say two men were discovered with gunshot wounds to their legs. Both were taken to hospital and were listed in stable condition.

Police also said video footage showed a verbal dispute between three men, with one man —whom they identified as Knox Jr. — striking one of the other men in the face.

Cara Cruz, deputy public information officer for Pittsburgh Public Safety, said the incident occurred in a bar/nightclub area popular with college students.

The Argos said they are “well aware of the charges” and “take these matters seriously,” but have not yet determined how to proceed.

“We are currently looking into it and determining the appropriate next steps for our organization,” the statement said.

The CFL season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Saints fill out the roster with former Chiefs, Chargers pass rusher Anthony Lanier

The New Orleans Saints training camp roster is back at capacity following the signing of former Los Angeles Chargers DE Anthony Lanier.

[jwplayer zCSmlpih-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints hosted half a dozen free agents for a group tryout earlier this week following injuries to the front seven, with defensive end Marcus Davenport and linebackers Zack Baun and Anthony Chickillo held out of Friday’s full-contact scrimmage.

And it appears two of those visitors earned contracts with the Saints for the duration of training camp: per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, defensive end Anthony Lanier will be joining the Saints along with former CFL linebacker Wynton McManis.

Lanier, listed at 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, fits the physical profile the Saints like out on the edge from a height-weight standpoint. He spent the 2018 season on the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad after breaking out for Washington in 2017, playing 339 snaps and notching 5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 6 pass deflections, and a pair of fumbles (one forced, another recovered). Lanier joined the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason but was released after the 2020 NFL Draft.

He’ll have a week to make a nice impression, but the Saints have a fairly stacked defensive ends rotation — depending on Davenport’s health. The Saints are not required to publish a formal injury report, so it’s unclear what issue he may be dealing with, but he was earning praise from all corners during training camp. Hopefully it’s nothing serious.

While Lanier’s addition rounds out the 80-man roster for training camp, the Saints could churn the bottom of the depth chart with more last-minute signings in an attempt at getting more time with practice squad candidates. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis spoke about the anxieties of evaluating players without extensive preseason game tape, so bringing in players like Lanier and McManis even for a week could help pad out scouting reports. The Saints must cut their roster down to just 53 players by 3 p.m. CT on Sept. 5.

[vertical-gallery id=37192]

Report: Saints to sign CFL linebacker Wynton McManis after group tryout

The New Orleans Saints are expected to sign linebacker Wynton McManis, a special teams ace and starter for the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders.

The New Orelans Saints are expected to sign Wynton McManis, a linebacker who last played for the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. McManis joined the Stampeders in 2017 after a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers, who signed McManis as an undrafted rookie out of Memphis.

McManis opted out of his CFL contract on Monday after the Canadian league canceled its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opening up this opportunity in the NFL. He tried out for the Saints on Thursday as part of a six-man group of free agents, which the team reported on the daily NFL transactions wire:

  • DE T.J. Carter (6-foot-4, 289 pounds)
  • DE Anthony Lanier (6-foot-6, 285 pounds)
  • DE Cameron Malveaux (6-foot-5, 265 pounds)
  • LB Mike Hull (6-foot-0, 232 pounds)
  • LB Jan Johnson (6-foot-2, 231 pounds)
  • LB Wynton McManis (6-foot-1, 225 pounds)

The addition of McManis should bring the Saints back to 79 of 80 roster spots filled, with one vacancy remaining. The team recently lost defensive lineman Jalen Dalton and cornerback Johnson Bademosi to injuries that will likely end their seasons.

They also released linebacker Nigel Bradham earlier this week, opening a spot in the rotation for McManis to compete. He’ll be pushing youngsters like Kaden Elliss and Joe Bachie for a backup job, but there are only a handful of practice sessions left for him to make an impression before roster cuts.

That said, he has the skills to make a splash. McManis broke out in 2019 with 15 starts and 86 combined tackles, including nine stops on special teams. He cut his teeth in the CFL with his efforts in the game’s third phase, having paced the league with 25 special teams tackles in 2018. If he’s going to earn a spot on the Saints roster, it’ll come with big moments in the kicking game.

[vertical-gallery id=37025]

CFL will allow players to opt out from canceled season and join the NFL

CFL will allow players to opt out from canceled season and join the NFL

The Canadian Football League has canceled play for the 2020 season. Rather than keep players tied to contracts to teams that aren’t going to play, the CFL has opted for some pragmatic good karma.

The CFL will allow players to opt out of their contracts with their teams in order to pursue playing south of the border in the NFL. The Canadian Football League Players Association and the CFL reached the agreement on Friday night, per a report from NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.

It opens the door for a new influx of talent into the NFL free agency pool. CFL players will be eligible to begin opting out and pursuing NFL employment on Monday.

The Browns Wire Podcast: Former All-American Jan White joins

Jan White is the only Ohio State tight end ever named as a consensus All-American

Welcome to The Browns Wire Podcast, hosted by Josh Keatley (@JoshKeatley16). This week, Adam Moore (@Moore2102) and I get the chance to sit down with the only Ohio State tight end in school history to be named consensus All-American in Jan White.

White drops some insight on a lot of football topics, including his path to Ohio State despite growing up in a Penn State household and his NFL journey as a second-round pick in the 1971 NFL Draft.

Josh and Adam talk about the cancellation of the CFL and more as well.

<iframe src=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-browns-wire-podcast/the-browns-wire-podcast-former-all-american-jan-wh/embed?style=cover” frameborder=”0″ width=”100%” height=”180″></iframe>

It’s also available on all of your favorite podcast apps, including iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher and Spotify. Thanks for listening!

 

CFL cancels 2020 season

There will be no CFL season in 2020, the league announced Monday.

There will be no professional football North of the border in 2020.

The CFL officially canceled its 2020 season Monday due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The league’s statement:

TORONTO – The Canadian Football League is shifting its focus to 2021 and beyond after deciding not to play a shortened season this Fall.

“Our league governors decided today it is in the best long-term interests of the CFL to concentrate on the future,” said Commissioner Randy Ambrosie.

“We are absolutely committed to 2021, to the future of our league and the pursuit of our vision of a bigger, stronger, more global CFL.”

… He added the league and its teams are working together on a new initiative that will allow fans to show their pride in the CFL’s storied history at the same time they pledge their support for the future, which will be unveiled in the coming days.

The league lost its number one source of revenue – fans in the stands – when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented large gatherings.

Unlike US-based leagues that can count on television or streaming to provide the lion’s share of their revenue, the CFL depends heavily on its live gate.

Broncos WR Diontae Spencer nominated for CFL’s All-Decade Team

Broncos returner Diontae Spencer has been nominated for the CFL’s All-Decade Team.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Diontae Spencer has been nominated for the Canadian Football League’s All-Decade Team as a kick returner. Fans can vote for Spencer on the CFL’s website.

Spencer (5-8, 163 pounds) signed with the Toronto Argonauts in 2014 after short offseason stints with the St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears. He then spent four seasons in Canada, splitting time with the Argonauts and Ottawa Redblacks.

Spencer earned East All-Star nods in 2017 and 2018 and was named a CFL All-Star in 2018. He set the CFL single-game record for all-purpose yards (496) in 2017 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Last summer, Spencer went to training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers but failed to make their 53-man roster. He was then claimed off waivers by the Broncos and was quickly named Denver’s starting returner.

Spencer earned Pro Bowl alternate honors after his first season with the Broncos. He totaled 644 return yards in 2019, averaging 29.1 yards per return on kickoffs.

[vertical-gallery id=644127]

Edmonton CFL team announces it will drop controversial nickname

The CFL team in Edmonton joins the NFL team in Washington in search of a new nickname.

There is one team in the NFL working on a new nickname. Now, there is a team in the CFL in the same spot.

The Edmonton franchise in the CFL announced Tuesday it will drop the nickname that has caused major controversy North of the border.

There is no new nickname yet. Until one is determined, the club will be known as EE Football Team and Edmonton Football Team.

“… 2020 is already a year of unprecedented upheaval,” team board chair Janice Agrios said during a videoconference. “Our most recent opinion research shows plainly that views are shifting quickly.

“People who defended the name only a year ago are less comfortable with it now. Institutions are being renamed around the world. The change to our name is part of a sweeping societal change.

“Thank-you to those members of the Inuit community who spent time sharing their views with us the past three years. To those Inuit who told us they loved having a football team called the Eskimos, we hope we can continue to be your team. To those who were offended by the name, we have heard you and recognize your concerns.”

It is only a matter of time before Las Vegas begins setting a line on what team finds its new nickname first, Edmonton or Washington?

 

The Browns Wire Podcast: Interview with CFL WR Kwadarrius Smith

The Browns Wire Podcast: Interview with CFL WR Kwadarrius Smith

Welcome to The Browns Wire Podcast, hosted by Josh Keatley (@JoshKeatley16). This week Adam Moore (@Moore2102) and I are joined by former Akron Zip star and current Toronto Argo, Kwadarrius Smith (@Kwadgottamakeit)

It’s also available on all of your favorite podcast apps, including iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher and Spotify. Thanks for listening!

[protected-iframe id=”f5e94c54b6c6d9c0d0b00b069be9a6ea-105974707-80829973″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-browns-wire-podcast/the-browns-wire-podcast-toronto-argos-kwadarrius-s/embed?style=cover” width=”100%” height=”180″ frameborder=”0″]