It’s official! Johnny Manziel is a Montreal Alouette!!!
And like every big name that comes to this town, the first task is to learn a few catchy French phrases. You know. To show you’re making an effort and taking the city seriously. So this is my suggestion for one of Manziel’s first French doozies: Une Lueur D’Espoir (A Ray of Hope…shame on you for not knowing that).
Now, considering that the last Heisman winner to play for the Alouettes was Troy Smith. And considering Troy Smith was the first of 2,618 quarterbacks to play and suck since Calvillo left the Alouettes in the lurch the second he realized he couldn’t throw a pass anymore, it would be fitting if Manziel, the 2012 Heisman winner, were the quarterback to put a wrench into the gears of that hateful, nasty quarterback carousel.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Alouettes gave up some important pieces in Jamal Westerman and Chris Williams. And they’ll have a lot to do to retool an offence that seemed designed specifically, regardless of the skill set of the quarterback, to be ready to accommodate the second coming of Anthony Calvillo.
The signing of Manziel signals a radical departure for this team. At least it had better. If they attempt to “square peg” Manziel in the role of a pocket passer, this whole adventure is doomed from the start. Time to dump the old Calvillo-Wannabes and Never-Wasses. The Willy’s and the Mathews’ can find their own way back to their respective fishing holes.
And if we manage to groom Manziel and Adams into CFL quarterbacks, designing an offence to their athleticism and spontaneity, adding pieces that complement the new paradigm…who knows?
I hoped it could happen with Cato. So be it. Sorry Rakeem.
And not to be ignored, Kavis Reed managed to sweeten our side of the deal with two more offensive linemen. Our stable of olinemen is starting to shape up really nicely.
More on all of this soon. But, since we’re talking about hope, I’ll optimistically say, about the Alouettes and this BLOG:
We’re Back, Baby!!!
UPDATE: A few hours later
Just in case anyone was hoping the Manziel trade was anything more than a cynical attempt to cash in on his celebrity, the Alouettes Twitter feed is selling “Manziel’s First Game” tickets before or around the time of the official confirmation of the trade. Hopefully Manziel is good enough that it doesn’t matter what desperate, lowly motives might be driving the Wetenhalls. Having said that, I may just show up before game time and get my “I was there when Manziel played in his first CFL game” ticket.
Obviously Manziel won’t be ready to start for the Alouettes for several weeks. At best, they’ll manage to insert a Johnny CFL Football package or two, here and there, and then expand upon that on a weekly basis. In the meantime, I’ll have to suffer through Rick Moffat making such clever comments as, “Holy Schiltz” and “He just Schiltz the bed”. I just have to get a better computer so I don’t have to listen to radio broadcasts anymore.
Scheesh!!!
ACHTUNG! We may lose ze battle, yes. But we will definitely, AND I CANNOT SHTRESS ZIS ENOUGH: ve will indishputably lose ze war (I never said Moffat had a patent on bad taste).
UH OH ‘PDATE: Rumors from RDS’ Didier Ormejuste about Manziel’s recent behavioral problems: boozing it up and parting, and missing and being late for meetings. No doubt Manziel has been chomping at the bit to get on the field. But partying and misbehaving rather than doubling down and applying yourself so you’re ready when your opportunity comes, isn’t a good sign for the Alouettes.
“Listen Johnny CFL Football, your money is no good here. No, I mean we’re not allowed to serve you anything stronger than a kombucha while the season’s still going.”
I expect this protocol to be implemented from Crescent to St. Denis, heck the entire city if need be.
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