Johnny Manziel returning to football, joins developmental league

Johnny-Manziel-CFL-Ticats

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy in 2012. (Scott Eklund/AP)

Johnny Manziel’s comeback begins this spring.

The former NFL quarterback announced Wednesday morning that he’s joining The Spring League, an elite developmental league and scouting event based in Texas.

The league’s aim is to help professional-level talent showcase their skills during a two-month season that begins in March.

Manziel, 25, opened up earlier this week about his struggles with alcohol abuse and a recent bipolar diagnosis, and said his priority is to return to professional football. The 2014 first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns was plagued by off-field issues over the course of his two NFL seasons and was eventually cut by the Browns in 2016.

Rumours of Manziel joining the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats were circulating earlier this year, but no deal was made.

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