AAF co-founder Bill Polian: league 50 per cent through due diligence on Johnny Manziel

Former NFL general manager and Alliance of American Football co-founder Bill Polian is being careful with regards to quarterback Johnny Manziel.

#AAF Co-founder Bill Polian on Johnny Manziel: We had feelers out to people close to him. We're in the process of going through due diligence. I would say it’s 50 percent done. We don’t intend to comment on anything on Johnny personally for reasons that are legally obvious."

— Ben Kercheval (@BenKercheval) March 6, 2019

The Montreal Alouettes were directed by the CFL to release Manziel after it was found that he contravened the agreement which made him eligible to play in the league. The CFL informed all of its member clubs that it will not register a contract for Manziel should any franchise attempt to sign him, essentially kicking him out of the league.

.@TheAAF presser w Bill Polian, co-founder/head of football 'We are in the process of due diligence regarding #JohnnyManziel I'd say we are 50% thru the process Can't talk about his @CFL situation for legal reasons' pic.twitter.com/0fYzQf5OOb

— Barry Janoff (@barryjanoff) March 6, 2019

Manziel was banned from the CFL after missing required meetings with people tasked to help him stay on the straight and narrow – a violation of the agreement set out by the league.

One day after AAF chairman Tom Dundon said the league would give Manziel the chance to work out for all eight teams, co-founder Charlie Ebersol has put that on hold.

“We’re trying to get to the bottom of what happened in Canada,” Ebersol told the Associated Press.

The San Antonio Commanders own Manziel’s rights under the league’s allocation system because the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner played for Texas A&M University. That means San Antonio would get the first chance to sign Manziel.

San Diego Fleet head coach Mike Martz has already ruled out signing Manziel.

San Diego Fleet head coach Mike Martz was asked by @TODDSTRAINNBCSD after practice if they would consider signing recently released CFL QB Johnny Manziel.
He said by the time he got everything down the season would be over.
Fleet recently lost QB Philip Nelson for the season. pic.twitter.com/71sfbNVHq9

— Fernando Ramirez (@RealFRamirez) March 6, 2019

“For us, it doesn’t make sense because we’re so far along with what we do,” Martz said. “By the time he’d learn what we do the season is over with.”