Manziel's agent: Alouettes 'insane' to start QB so quickly

Warning: Story contains coarse language

Johnny Manziel's agent doesn't believe the Montreal Alouettes are making the smartest decision by throwing his client into the starting lineup less than two full weeks after landing him in a trade.

"I mean, have you learned more than like nine plays in the three practices you've got before they decide to throw you out to the wolves, so to speak? ... It's insane," Erik Burkhardt said in front of the quarterback on Barstool Sports' Comeback SZN podcast.

Manziel was acquired by the Alouettes in a blockbuster transaction with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 22. After spending his Montreal debut stapled to the bench, the Als decided to turn to the former Heisman Trophy winner with hopes that he can spark their struggling offence. Coincidentally, Manziel will make his first CFL start against the Tiger-Cats.

Though Manziel sounded more eager about finally taking his first regular-season snaps of the year, Burkhardt questioned his ability to learn a new team's playbook and offensive system in such a short period of time.

"He's had like four practices in this offence, I think it's a little premature," Burkdhardt said. "I think you're only as good as your play-calling and your experience around you and I think everybody is trying to figure this thing out. I am, I'm a little bit uncomfortable, and I think expectations need to be tempered a little bit because this is not baseball, you can't just throw him in the five-hole and put him in left field and who gives a shit what jersey he's wearing."

Burkhardt also criticized the Tiger-Cats for trading away Manziel instead of giving him a chance to overtake Jeremiah Masoli as their starting pivot.

"We're playing the team that traded him and it ain't like they're blowing the doors off, they're 2-4," he said. "I think their quarterback has thrown more picks than touchdowns, so go put it on their ass."