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Former Cleveland Browns QB Johnny Manziel officially offered contract from CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel officially has been offered a contract from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium.

CLEVELAND -- The Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League officially have offered former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel.

The Tiger-Cats announced the offer in a team-issued statement.

“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.

“That window closed today 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.”

In late December, CFL Commissioner Randy Ambroise announced that he would approve a contract for Manziel should one be negotiated. After that announcement was made, the Tiger-Cats had 10 days to offer Manziel a contract, trade him or relinquish his rights.

Since September of 2012, Manziel has been on the negotiation list for the Tiger-Cats, who struggled through an 0-8 start to the 2017 season and went through multiple quarterbacks, including the league's highest-paid player, Zach Collaros, and Jeremiah Masoli.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) is pressured by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford (55) in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium.

A first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2014, 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.

During the 2015 season, Manziel made a promise to the coaches that he would not to embarrass or be a distraction over the bye week, but his weekend partying at Texas A&M was documented in a profanity-laced video that surfaced on social media. Then-coach Mike Pettine benched Manziel for the Monday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens just seven days after naming the second-year signal-caller the starter for the remainder of the season.

However, Manziel's trail of trouble started long before the bye-week trip to Texas.

In mid-October 2015, the Browns were basking in the glory of a victory over the Ravens, their first in Baltimore since the 10-6 season of 2007, but while teammates were enjoying a day off, Manziel was being pulled over by police in Avon.

Eye-witness calls to the police from fellow travelers along Interstate 90 detailed Manziel, who admitted to having a couple drinks downtown before heading home, as driving erratically on the highway and in a physical argument with his then-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, who was heard on the police video saying “he hurt me several times,” and also, “I'm in fear for my life.”

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel makes his first appearance in court for his misdemeanor assault charge at the Frank Crowley Courts Building.

Then, in January of 2016, Manziel had another incident with his Crowley in Dallas.

Crowley applied for and was granted an order of protection from the quarterback after detailing an alleged assault in an affidavit in court seeking the order from a judge in Texas.

What was known before the release of the affidavit was in the early-morning hours of Saturday, January 30th, Manziel, who was listed as a suspect in the police report, met up with his ex-girlfriend at a hotel in Dallas. After friends left the two alone, Crowley claims Manziel was “aggressive towards her.” It was further detailed that Manziel struck her several times, including once to the left ear while appearing to be “on some kind of drugs” but not intoxicated.

After Manziel told Crowley that he would drive her home, it was documented in the report that she was again struck several times before arriving back at her Fort Worth apartment. Crowley was said to have attempted trying to get away from Manziel before breaking free and going to a neighbor seeking help, at which time, he left the scene.

Also, there were details about Manziel throwing Crowley against a hotel bed, and then, forcibly putting her in a vehicle to drive from the hotel to her apartment in Fort Worth while she asked for and was not given any help from a valet.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) is called for intentional grounding while pressured from Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford (55) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium.

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.

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