Manziel: Will play in CFL if NFL doesn't work out

If Johnny Manziel's NFL comeback attempt doesn't pan out as he hopes, he intends to fall back on the Canadian Football League.

Manziel threw in front of scouts and coaches at Texas A&M's pro day on Tuesday. He told reporters he hopes an NFL team reaches out, but he isn't solely focused on the possibility.

"I've blocked it off," Manziel said, via ESPN. "I can't do anything, I can't stress about it, all I can do is make sure I'm where I need to be. ... All I can do is block it off. If something [with the NFL] pops up, it pops up. And if not, if I don't get the opportunity to go back, I'm going to go play in the CFL, and things are going to be fine.

"One way or another, one day down the line, I'll get back to exactly where I want to be, because I'm not going to stop until I do."

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Manziel's CFL rights are held by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who extended a qualifying offer his way in January. Representatives from the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL were on hand for Tuesday's showcase, which was attended by reps from all 32 NFL teams.

Manziel said he hasn't set a timeline for how long he'll wait for another shot in the NFL before moving on to the CFL. He'll next head to Austin, Texas, to take part in The Spring League, which plays NFL-rules, full-contact games on April 7 and April 12.

"I've been focused to get through tomorrow," Manziel said. "To get to the first day of practice and get to the Spring League ... I think we'll feel it out as it goes after the Spring League and see. The quarterback market itself has to play itself out. There are still a bunch of guys who are unsigned."

Manziel threw to Texas A&M receivers, including draft hopeful Christian Kirk, during Tuesday's pro day. The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner threw in front of scouts from 12 NFL teams last Thursday during the University of San Diego's pro day.

Manziel was released by the Cleveland Browns, who took him in the first round of the 2014 draft, in March 2016 after numerous off-field issues and a suspension under the NFL's substance abuse policy.

"It took me awhile to really overcome that and get to where I was comfortable with it, but once I did, I started seeing an improvement in all aspects of my life," Manziel said of his previous problems. "The people that I have around me ... I have a good team around me and I've cut off a lot of the leeches that have been around me in my life and it was really needed and really necessary."

--Field Level Media