Vernon Adams Jr. on outside looking in with Tiger-Cats

Vernon Adams Jr. can’t catch a break.
Now with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats – his third Canadian Football League team in as many seasons – the former Eastern Washington and Oregon quarterback is trying to make an impression.
However, despite being listed as second on the Tiger-Cats’ depth chart, Adams was working in the shadows.
The big news out of the CFL last weekend was Hamilton’s signing of former Cleveland Browns quarterback and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.
Selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft, Manziel was released by the Browns in March 2016. During two tumultuous seasons in which he went 2-6, Manziel faced domestic assault charges, took an anger-management class and participated in the NFL’s substance-abuse program.
However, the Tiger-Cats are confident that Manziel will adapt to the CFL game.
“We have plenty of time in camp. I’d say in 2 1/2 weeks he’ll have a handle on everything,” coach June Jones said.
More worrying for Adams is Jones’ implication that it’s only a two-man race for the starting job, with returning starter and former Oregon star Jeremiah Masoli.
Manziel is “going to have to beat out Jeremiah,” Jones said. “Jeremiah is pretty good. He’s a lot better than people give him credit for. But, yeah, you can never have too many good quarterbacks.”
Some would say that includes Adams, who played for Montreal and Saskatchewan last year and had 24 carries for 46 yards and three touchdowns. Adams completed one pass in three attempts for 8 yards.
Adams started his CFL career in 2016 for Montreal, completing 42 of 75 passes for 575 yards and four TDs.