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Johnny Manziel spent much of the first day of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' training camp as an observer.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner watched a lot of the session Sunday Bills Trent Murphy Jersey , a day after signing with the Canadian Football league club. Manziel threw while working with the five other quarterbacks and did short tosses to receivers, but knelt off to the side or stood with quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison during 1-on-1 pass drills and 7-on-7 sessions at Ron Joyce Stadium.

"That's because he doesn't know the terminology, he doesn't know anything," Tiger-Cats coach June Jones said. "Dan was walking through each route as it was called. But (on Monday) guess what? We're going to walk in and start taking a couple."

Manziel has plenty to learn about Canadian football. Standing on the field for the first time only served to further drive that point home.

"Spacing is a little bit different on the defensive side if I had to look at anything," Manziel said. "On offense, I've never ran this many routes that are predicated off of one defender ... every route has an opportunity to break three or four different ways, which is different.

"But I think it gives you the versatility and offensive weapons to be able to attack coverages more intensely than it would just running a fixed route. I know it's going to take some time but now I see it more-so and my expectations are tempered."

Hamilton's other quarterbacks include starter Jeremiah Masoli, CFL veterans Vernon Adams Jr., and Bryant Moniz along with youngsters Dane Evans and Chris Merchant of the Vanier Cup-champion Western Mustangs.

Jones said the Ticats aren't waiting for Johnny Football to become familiar with their offensive terminology and schemes.

"He's got to catch up because we've got guys in there and he will," Jones said. "We have plenty of time in camp. I'd say in 2 1/2 weeks he'll have a handle on everything."

The 25-year-old former Texas A&M star was selected in the first round 鈥?No. 22 overall 鈥?by the Cleveland Browns in the 2014 NFL draft. He was released in March 2016 after posting a 2-6 record over two tumultuous campaigns.

Manziel actively pursued an NFL contract this offseason Isaiah Oliver Jersey Elite , throwing during pro days at both Texas A&M and the University of San Diego, and participating in The Spring League 鈥?a development circuit for players overlooked by the NFL.

He has dealt with several off-field issues. In 2016, a domestic assault charge against Manziel in Dallas was dismissed after he took an anger management course and participated in the NFL's substance-abuse program. In a recent interview, he said he's been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has stopped drinking.

The CFL approved the signing, saying that in December it began the process to determine if Manziel could join the league. Manziel had to meet certain conditions, including an assessment by an independent expert on domestic violence, a review by legal counsel and a discussion with Commissioner Randy Ambrosie.

"I've been very upfront with my past and the fact that I haven't been perfect by any means," Manziel said. "Obviously, the magnitude of my mistakes in the past are something I'm definitely not proud of but at the end of the day I feel like I've come a long way from that person that I was at that time.

"I feel I've grown a lot and feel through the mistakes I've made they've turned me into a better person, they've turned me into a man. I'll never be able to outrun my past . . . the only thing I can do is grow and hopefully be a better person moving forward and I have every intention of doing that."

Cam Newton said he lives for pressure-packed moments.

But so far the Panthers seventh-year quarterback has been mediocre in the postseason Jets Thomas Rawls Jersey , something he hopes to improve upon when the Panthers visit the Saints on Sunday in the NFC playoffs.

Newton is 3-3 all-time in the postseason, with his last playoff game culminating in an emotionally devastating 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

Outside of a riveting performance in a 49-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 NFC championship game, Newton’s statistics in the postseason have been average. He has completed just 59.7 percent of his passes for eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s run for only two TDs, both of those coming in the playoff rout of the Cardinals.

”This is when the real football starts,” Newton said after Wednesday’s practice. ”This is where you’re made or you’re broke – and I look forward to these moments because it brings out the best in the individual because there is so much pressure. And we all know pressure does one of two things. We’re hoping to shine like diamonds on Sunday.”

The Saints (11-5) have already defeated Carolina (11-5) twice this season, including a 31-21 victory on Dec. 3.

But that doesn’t bother the NFL’s 2015 league MVP, who is expecting to bounce back from the worst statistical game of his game of his career in a 22-10 loss last Sunday at Atlanta.

His quarterback rating of 31.5 in a 22-10 loss to the Falcons was the worst of his 109 career starts. He misfired on his first nine passes and had three second half interceptions. Yet he believes the problems in that game are easily fixable and the Panthers can rebound and rediscover the mojo that helped them win seven of eight games before the Falcons fiasco.

”It just wasn’t clicking,” Newton said. ”And it was internal. So self-inflicted things and that’s never good for you. … Protecting the football is important and I have to do a way better job of doing that.”

This isn’t first time the Panthers have battled adversity, which isn’t lost on the former Heisman Trophy winner who won a national championship at Auburn.

Even Panthers coach Ron Rivera referred to this as a ”tumultuous” season.

The Panthers endured the off-field distractions from get go with the firing of general manager Dave Gettleman on the eve of training camp. That was followed by the midseason trade of No. 1 wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, the negative feedback from Newton’s sexist comments to a female reporter and the alleged sexual and racial misconduct surrounding team owner Jerry Richardson Josh Rosen Color Rush Jersey , who now plans to sell the team.

And that doesn’t even include the injuries which kept three-time Pro Bowl tight Greg Olsen and two-time All-Pro center Ryan Kalil out of most of the season.

Newton said the Panthers have learned to ”weather the storm,” which has brought them closer together as a team.

Carolina’s wide receiving corps remains a muddled mess and the Panthers still don’t appear to have a defined role for rookie running back Christian McCaffrey. But Olsen will play against the Saints for the first time this year giving Newton more options, and running back Jonathan Stewart (back stiffness) and guard Trai Turner (concussion) are expected back from injuries this week.

But the reality is the Panthers will only go as far as Newton can take them in the postseason.

Not only is he the Panthers’ leading passer, he’s also their leading rusher.

”We get Cam Newton playing fast, we’re a dangerous offense,” Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula said.

”We’ve got to keep Cam from trying to run all over the field, try to make him be more of a pocket passer,” said Saints defensive tackle Tyeler Davison.

Saints defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins said the Saints have been able to throw Newton off the last two games by disguising coverages and giving him multiple looks. Newton has two TD passes and three interceptions in two games against the Saints which the Panthers have lost by a combined margin of 65-34.

”Not allowing him to get a bead on where the coverage is rolling down to, who’s coming, who’s not Ian Thomas Jersey Elite , different stunts up front,” Rankins said. ”If you can always keep Cam on his toes, it definitely gives you the best chance to win.”

Rivera said he expects Newton to play well.

”He’s a guy that tends to bounce back after a tough outing,” Rivera said. ”We had a tough outing. He’s going to prepare, be ready. We, as a football team, will prepare and be ready.”

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AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed to this report.

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