San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Commanders general manager Daryl Johnston said Thursday that he thinks Alliance of American Football executives have been in conversations with Johnny Manziel and his representation about signing him to an AAF contract.

Manziel, a former Heisman Trophy winner at Texas A&M, was released by the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes on Wednesday. Were Manziel to sign with the Alliance, the Commanders would have first rights to him under the league’s regional allocation system.

Johnston said the Commanders have not had direct contact with Manziel or his representation. Johnston spoke to league chairman Tom Dundon on Wednesday.

“He was the one who informed me yesterday of what happened and that Johnny Manziel was now available,” Johnston said. “He just said, ‘He belongs to you in San Antonio, so what are your thoughts?’ I said, ‘Let’s just sit back and see what the league thinks, and we’ll move ahead from there.’ We’re in a holding pattern right now here locally.”

Johnston said he received indication Manziel would be “comfortable” with the salary structure of the Alliance’s three-year, $250,000 contracts for players.