The CFL announced Wednesday it won't register any contract for former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel this season, and will only allow him to play in the league next year if he meets certain conditions spelled out by the commissioner.
"The specifics of those conditions are confidential and will not be disclosed," a statement from the league read.
Manziel, who had an in-person meeting with commissioner Randy Ambrosie, will remain on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' exclusive negotiating rights list until Nov. 30, according to the statement.
Known as Johnny Football, Manziel is intent on resuming his career after addressing numerous off-field issues. He worked out for the Tiger-Cats in August, but Hamilton said at the time it chose not to offer him a contract.
Manziel released the following statement Wednesday:
I recently had a really positive meeting with Commissioner Ambrosie and welcomed the chance for us to get to know each other and have an in-depth talk about a possible future with the CFL. I love this game and want to be back on the field in a situation where I can help a franchise in the long term. Over the past months, my agent helped me vet all of my options for playing, figuring out where I could be most effective and get back to having the most fun with the game I love. I'm ready to play today, but we all agreed with the Commissioner that it made no sense for me to join a team with only a month left in the season - it wouldn't have been fair to my teammates, coaches or the fan base. I want to come into a team and earn my job day one, like everyone else. I look forward to preparing myself as best I can and look forward to what the future holds.
A former Heisman Trophy winner at Texas A&M, Manziel spent two years with the Cleveland Browns before being released. The Browns drafted him in the first round, 22nd overall, in 2014.
