Call it another example of the Johnny Effect.
CFL broadcast rights holder TSN has elected to televise Saturday’s exhibition game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes at Percival Molson Stadium in Montreal, which kicks off at 12 p.m. ET. The game wasn’t initially on TSN’s slate of four exhibition contests but has been added to the list.
Ticats’ head coach June Jones announced on Monday that starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli won’t play against the Alouettes and while he didn’t specify, it seems likely that Manziel will get the start. Fellow backups Vernon Adams and Byrant Moniz are also expected to see time.
Manziel made his CFL debut last Friday in a 36-18 loss to the Toronto Argonauts, going 9-for-11 for 80 yards in approximately a quarter of play.
The level of interest in Manziel has been off the charts across North America. Reporters for ESPN and USA Today made the trip to Hamilton for Manziel’s debut and video of his first drive is now the eighth most watched item on TSN’s YouTube channel.
