Tuesday Morning QB (CFL Week 13)
Leave it to the CFL to come up with one of the most unexpected stories regarding one of the biggest names in the sport.
Johnny Manziel was the focus for so long this offseason but now he is relegated to fighting for a starting role.
What is more surprising is that it comes after he was traded to a team in desperate need of a quarterback.
When the season began it was the Ti-Cats who signed the notorious QB as the team who owned his rights.
It was never the best fit as Jeremiah Masoli was set to take over after impressing a year ago in relief of Zach Collaros.
Masoli proved to be the better option as he continues to build an MOP candidacy adding some major numbers to a great year.
It was clear that Johnny Football wasn’t going to be starting any time soon in Hamilton and so the Ti-Cats decided to trade him away.
They looked to Montreal where there hasn’t been a solid QB since Anthony Calvillo retired after the 2013 season.
They have tried just about everything but the trade to get Manziel seemed like the best shot they had.
Despite a lack of practice, Manziel started quickly after being traded and actually proved to be a good decision for the Als.
They still struggled but in his first two games under centre, the Alouettes were getting better and beginning a serious run at the playoffs.
That second game was a promising sign but also a rough break for Manziel who suffered a tough hit while trying to get a touchdown.
That hit put him into concussion protocol and kept him out of the lineup while forcing the Als to go with a third QB for the season.
They looked to Antonio Pipkin to lead them while Manziel went through the concussion issues that were likely to keep him out for a few weeks.
Once they got Manziel back they could try to make a run with whatever chance they could find after the play of Pipkin.
Then something that shouldn’t be surprising in the CFL any longer happened, the unknown and never talked about QB took over.
In his first start, Pipkin took a huge win over the Toronto Argonauts which kept their hopes at the playoffs alive and well.
His second start followed suit as Manziel continued to recover while Pipkin was becoming a legitimate starter in the league.
With two wins in his first two CFL starts for a team that has struggled for the entire year to get wins against anyone.
That has led to a quarterback competition in Montreal as they took the week off in Week 13 and that was enough time for Manziel to get back to full health.
Now the most talked about player in the CFL is once again sitting behind a QB who has proved to be a solid starter.
Manziel returned to practice this week but it seems like Pipkin will continue to play and why not after two straight wins.
The Als have discovered a QB that seems to be the answer, at least right now, for their quarterback woes as he can win ball games.
They haven’t had that for a long time and even Manziel wasn’t able to get the win in either of his first two starts.
Yet Manziel is the guy that everyone is wondering about with the talent to be one of the best in the NCAA when he was in college.
His skill set seems to be fit for the CFL game with athleticism and the ability to make things up on the go.
He was just getting started when he took over for the Alouettes and in his second game, he was looking like he was getting used to the game.
Now as he attempts to come back another QB is standing in his way in what seems like the worst luck for someone clearly trying to make his way to the NFL.
Only time will tell how this quarterback battle will go as Pipkin could solidify his spot under centre or could falter down the stretch.
How he performs will determine the future of this team as they are still in the fight for the playoffs but are preparing more for a future.
Pipkin provides a bigger and more stable future as he is not heading to the NFL unlike Manziel but with the spotlight, on the former NFLer, there will be a lot of pressure to let him loose.
Whoever comes out on top this year could be the QB of the future in Montreal and might solve the biggest question for a once dominant franchise.
Fourth Down
GC MVP Back to Canada
Devier Posey had a great year in 2017 when he helped the Argos to a Grey Cup win and earned the Grey Cup MVP. That success was his springboard to the NFL as he took this NFL offseason to head south and go to the NFL. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens looking to land a spot on the team. He wasn’t able to land that spot after being cut just before the season began but one loss was a massive gain for another league. He immediately became one of the biggest targets for CFL teams looking to get a boost before the playoffs. The BC Lions were the team to land the receiver signing Posey this week and adding him to their improving passing attack as they look for a chance at the playoffs.
The Walking Wounded
Week 13 in the CLF was the rematches of some of the biggest games in the year but some teams left without some of their stars. The rematches took their toll on a number of teams with Zach Collaros and Travis Lulay going down with apparent concussions. Both will look to return to the lineup this week but concussions can always be a tricky thing to deal with. If both can come back they can continue to fight for a playoff spot but their seasons could also be in jeopardy if they happen to be out longer. It added to an already big list of players hurt in the last two weeks giving a number of teams a lot to think about as they continue to fight for the playoffs.
Marquay’s Comeback
It seemed like the end of the road for CFL veteran Marquay McDaniel when he began the season without a team. The Calgary Stampeders didn’t want him back moving on from the 9-year vet and focusing on younger players in the passing game. McDaniel has kept up his work though as he continued to look to find a new team to play for and he might have done that this week. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed McDaniel placing him on the practice squad as he works to get back onto the field and provide another weapon to an already potent Hamilton offence.
The Sport Addiction 