-
Kevin SeifertNFL Nation
MONTREAL — Johnny Manziel did not play Thursday night in his first game since the Montreal Alouettes acquired him in a blockbuster trade, another reminder of the long adjustment he faced after signing a CFL contract this spring.
The local crowd at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium began chanting for Manziel in the first half as the Alouettes lost an early lead to the Edmonton Eskimos. As the game got out of hand in the second half, fans booed struggling starter Vernon Adams.
But Montreal coach Mike Sherman refused to make a change in a 44-23 loss.
Adams finished 14-for-27 for 217 yards and one interception.
Manziel wasn’t scheduled to speak with reporters after the game and Adams wasn’t interested in discussing Manziel, either.
“I’m not answering no questions about Johnny Manziel,” Adams said. “I’m answering questions about myself. Don’t ask me questions about Johnny Manziel.”
Manziel had only two full days of practice in Montreal after Sunday’s trade from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. An Alouettes source said that Manziel was given a package of plays in preparation for Thursday night’s game but he in no way knew the entire play book.
Sherman said Monday that Manziel wasn’t acquired “to have him sit on the bench” but stopped short of guaranteeing he would play Thursday. Manziel, meanwhile, reiterated that he knew his road to success in the CFL would take longer than many expected.
“I’ve tempered my expectations to not reach too high,” he said this week. “I want to come in and I want to play solid football. That’s what I want to do. I realize there are going to be some growing pains to get there, because it is a process. I have been away from the game a little bit. I’m excited to get some reps, and I know I’m going to be putting in the time that I need to off the field to expedite that process.”
Montreal’s next game is on Aug. 3, when the Tiger-Cats visit Montreal.