Ticats’ June Jones: Johnny Manziel ‘should be playing in the NFL’

Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach June Jones believes Johnny Manziel should be playing four-down football.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised the last three weeks what a good teammate he is, how smart he is, how he sees the game,” Jones told ESPN.com. “He should be playing in the National Football League, and I believe he will when he gets through with us.”

Manziel won the Ticats backup quarterback job in training camp and spent Week 1 as Johnny Clipboard in Calgary as he watched starter Jeremiah Masoli play the entire game against the Stampeders in Hamilton’s 28-14 loss.

Jones does admit that it will take time for Manziel to get back to the NFL level.

“It’ll take two years,” Jones said. “They’re [NFL executives, coaches] waiting to see that he’s taken care of his off-the-field problems. He’s humble. He’s growing up every day,” Jones said.

“We have a huge project. We’re going to get that done, too.”