Who has the Better Chance of Starting Next Year - Franklin or Manziel?

[jerrym]

Below is the answer to this question from several CFL observers:

O’Leary: Johnny Manziel. If the question was better chance of starting through the entire 2019 season I’d say James Franklin.

Landry: As it stands now, Manziel. The Alouettes invested a lot, remember. Don’t think they’d be prepared to scuttle the plan before they give him him a solid o-line to play behind.

Cauz: James Franklin. I at the very least have seen a successful body of work from James. Johnny has had the odd moment but my biggest Manziel memory is yelling at someone to get all the seagulls out of the way as I’m watching him play.

Nye: Do you believe Johnny Manziel will be back in the CFL? I’m not sure. There is nothing to indicate he won’t stick to the two year deal and if he does, he’s the guy in Montreal. I want to see him with a full off-season to work on the CFL game after committing late before training camp. Then he was traded at the start of the season. Let’s see Manziel in year two! Franklin barely won the back up job in Toronto. Is Marc Trestman as convinced as many Franklin could be the next best QB? More questions than answers for both these quarterbacks, though.

Ferguson: Franklin. The whole Manziel situation just seems too volatile to put any stock in.

Morris: I say Franklin. Who knows where Manziel will be next year?

IMO it should be Franklin, as he has shown more promise than Manziel. However, that doesn't mean that will be the case as the Argos are facing a possible management/coaching shakeup, Trestman seemed reluctant to reinsert him in the lineup after MBT had several dud games, and Kavis Reed has sold Manziel as the marquee name of the franchise.

[AngeloV]

I would say Manziel is a lock to start next season. Franklin better be the guy here next year.

[R.J]

Manziel at least early on.

I think with Franklin it all depends on if Trestman is back or not.

[OV Argo]

Manzier - cause he's an all-american hero saviour they hope can sell ticket$, and will be pencilled-in as the starter with no real competition; and Pipkin was IMO quite a bit better than Johnny Superstar with the Als this season.

Franklin has the few games left this season to convince Popp & Trestman he is the guy going forward; might be a tough task ?

[1971GreyCup]

With the reality of the current salary cap, to get a Heisman Award winning QB for $200,000 CDN is compelling. The Argos paid Heisman Award winner Doug Flutie $1 million in 1996 and 1997, or the equivalent of $1.6 million in today's dollars. Als will pay 1/8th of that salary.

[argolio]

Most talented QBs on their respective rosters, so they'll both start opening day.

[gilthethrill]

With the reality of the current salary cap, to get a Heisman Award winning QB for $200,000 CDN is compelling. The Argos paid Heisman Award winner Doug Flutie $1 million in 1996 and 1997, or the equivalent of $1.6 million in today's dollars. Als will pay 1/8th of that salary.

I have never been sold on a player winning the Heisman. Andre Ware? Eric Crouch? Manziel has to prove himself all over again, this time against seasoned pros. He will start next season as it appears Kavis will somehow return to Montreal as GM. Montreal fans will be incensed and will stay away in droves even more so.

[1971GreyCup]

I have never been sold on a player winning the Heisman. Andre Ware? Eric Crouch? Manziel has to prove himself all over again, this time against seasoned pros. He will start next season as it appears Kavis will somehow return to Montreal as GM. Montreal fans will be incensed and will stay away in droves even more so.

Fair enough. Coupled with the NFL first round, twenty-second overall means there is/was quality here/there. With the fiscal realities of the modern day CFL, a "high profile name" is few and far between. Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal being unique markets have always chased these marquee names. Long gone are the big name, Tom Cousineau-type signings were made by out bidding the NFL.

[Argo]

I would say Manziel is a lock to start next season. Franklin better be the guy here next year.

What's not to agree with?

[ArgoGabe22]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Ottawa moves on from Trevor Harris, and is back in Toronto. If Trestman is gone, then I’m not sure it will happen but if Trestman stays on, a move for Harris wouldn’t surprise me.

[Rich]

If Franklin doesn't improve his play over the last three games, I wouldn't be surprised if Manning/Popp tried to trade for Manziel in the off-season. A lot depends on what happens to the cap in the new CBA. Johnny may realize his NFL dreams are fading and opt to sign a multi-year deal with the Argos at $750K or whatever the new max will be. Manning would have his Argos Giovinco and market the hell out of him. Personally I think Manziel may yet turn into a great CFL QB, but we will have a better perspective on the situation after seeing these two QBs face off against each other on Saturday.

[Ron]

Looks to me that Franklin has the #1 job after spending some weeks developing. He's looked a lot better than when he got pulled. Not his fault the defense is losing games.

And Popp and Trestman will be back. I don't buy the media trolling and stirring stuff up. MLSE always does year end evaluations of everything but it also creates fodder for inane speculation.

[ArgoZ]

If Franklin doesn't improve his play over the last three games, I wouldn't be surprised if Manning/Popp tried to trade for Manziel in the off-season. A lot depends on what happens to the cap in the new CBA. Johnny may realize his NFL dreams are fading and opt to sign a multi-year deal with the Argos at $750K or whatever the new max will be. Manning would have his Argos Giovinco and market the hell out of him. Personally I think Manziel may yet turn into a great CFL QB, but we will have a better perspective on the situation after seeing these two QBs face off against each other on Saturday.

I can see some variation of this happening. Maybe Reilly instead. It will be an interesting off-season. Saturday’s game will be a hint of the future of both QB’s.

[paulwoods13]

This is not going to be a normal off-season. I can't see many free agents signing anywhere except the NFL or AAF until the CBA is signed, since there supposedly will be no up-front bonuses paid before a new CBA is in place (as per Ambrosie's order to the teams). I foresee Mitchell signing an NFL deal, and all the other FA QBs waiting to see what happens with the new CBA. Early talks, and the deal getting done by mid-Feb, would give us the best chance of a "normal" off-season with a lot of player movement, but I think this will be a long fight lasting well past Feb. As far as I can tell there is still a serious division between NATs and INTs as to bargaining strategy and priorities, and the league has always managed to use the existence of a divided workforce to its advantage. Will the players be united this time? If they are, we're in for a protracted fight. If they're not, the league will ultimately win the negotiation (as usual).

[Stevoman]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Ottawa moves on from Trevor Harris, and is back in Toronto. If Trestman is gone, then I’m not sure it will happen but if Trestman stays on, a move for Harris wouldn’t surprise me.

I've had this thought a few times too. Harris would fit Trestman's mold more but I would not want us to move on from Franklin.

[Antwon]

I've had this thought a few times too. Harris would fit Trestman's mold more but I would not want us to move on from Franklin.

The next 3 games will tell a lot. If Franklin looks good then stick with him.
I'd say NO to Harris. He's getting consistent at playing inconsistent. Has good games then bad games. Hits stretches where his pass are way off.

[R.J]

The next 3 games will tell a lot. If Franklin looks good then stick with him.
I'd say NO to Harris. He's getting consistent at playing inconsistent. Has good games then bad games. Hits stretches where his pass are way off.

I'm with you on Harris; he reminds me too much of Kevin Glenn.

[Will]

I'm with you on Harris; he reminds me too much of Kevin Glenn.

Maybe a rung higher than Kevin Glenn, but the point that you and Antwon and yourself are trying to make is well taken. I have to see how Trevor Harris performs in these last few games and then the playoffs before I make a judgment on him. My recollection from 2015 was that he played well through a certain point in the season and it seems like he's struggled down the stretch last year too.

[Argo57]

The next 3 games will tell a lot. If Franklin looks good then stick with him.
I'd say NO to Harris. He's getting consistent at playing inconsistent. Has good games then bad games. Hits stretches where his pass are way off.

Harris has a very inconsistent arm IMO, throws his fair share of wounded ducks which I don’t remember him doing with the Argos.

[jerrym]

I posted the following in the Montreal Alouette's thread but I think it's relevant here as while I think Manziel will be the starting QB next year, the glow and high level of expectation upon his arrival in Montreal is already gone, not just because of his performance on the field. If Manziel does not show improvement by the half-way of the season, I would not be surprised to see him released.

Win a game
Easier said than done, right? I know. But the fact remains that Manziel has yet to lead his team to an exciting victory. He’s had a few flashes here and there but nothing compares to the jubilant feeling a fan has when they leave the stadium or switch off the television after a win. ...

Parlez-vous Français?
If there’s one thing that goes over big in the Quebec sports world, it’s athletes who come in and both respect the culture and try their hand at a few French phrases. ...
For Johnny to begin a postgame press conference with a phrase or two is literally the least he can do to better connect with those who he wants to come and see him play. Former Montreal Expos legend Tim Raines never learned French but he threw out a ‘merci’ or a ‘bonjour’ or a ‘comment allez-vous’ when he was in public.

Put in a little face time
Other than a few reported night spot sightings, Manziel hasn’t been seen a ton around town during the daytime. If he and the Alouettes want fans to care about him, he has to show that he cares about the community in which he is living.

Show commitment
But a few words about his desire to make Montreal a home for a few years and to try and bring a championship to Alouettes fans would go a long, long way.
Montreal sports fans have become cynical and suspicious of their sports teams and sports stars. They’re looking for sympathetic, down-to-earth athletes that want to be here. ...

http://3downnation.com/2018/10/15/ro...al-bring-back/