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“Money and fame and doing what you think you wanted to do as a kid doesn’t always equate to happiness and moving forward in your life as you get older.

“I have a lot of regrets for the mistakes that I made in the past and I know that I will never be able to live that down or erase what happened. Hopefully, moving forward, I can have a calm and respectful demeanour about everything that I’m doing while trying to be the best person I can be. As you can see, good things have been happening.”

Photo by Peter Power / THE CANADIAN PRESS

That includes being involved in the CFL.

“(The CFL) was my best option to come and play and try to get on a team,’’ said Manziel, who signed a two-year contract with the Tiger-Cats. “I was tired of waiting for an NFL training camp and something to happen because there was too much uncertainty for something that I needed to be certain about in my life.

“The style of play in the (CFL) game fits me very well. I’m eager and chomping at the bit to play. If and when that comes, I’ll be ready.”

It doesn’t appear that opportunity arrive soon, considering how well Jeremiah Masoli is performing. Masoli has thrown for 300-plus yards in each of his past nine games, tying a CFL record that could fall Thursday.

Manziel, however, said he’s familiar with the backup role after serving in that capacity during his early days with the Browns.

“I’m definitely not satisfied with it, but it’s the role that I need to be in as far as being a good teammate and the No. 2 quarterback,’’ Manziel said. “All I can do is be the best in whatever role that I’m in now. If that changes, then I have to be ready to be the guy.’’