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Johnny Manziel released, barred from other CFL teams

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MONTREAL - Johnny Manziel's time in the Canadian Football League is over.

The CFL terminated the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner's contract with the Montreal Alouettes on Wednesday. The league also informed the eight other teams that it wouldn't register a contract for Manziel if any tried to sign him.

"We advised Montreal that Johnny had violated one of the conditions we had set for him to be in our league. And Montreal announced his release today," CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in Vancouver. "We didn't release the terms of those conditions then and we're not going to do that now.

"We're trying to do what we believe is in the best interests of the entire league. The conditions we set, we thought were the right ones. Those conditions have been violated and we feel it's best, and Montreal feels its best, to let Johnny move on. And we think it's best for our league that he do the same. And we wish him well."

A post on Manziel's Twitter account indicated he was already looking for other opportunities.

"I want to thank (Alouettes coach Mike Sherman), my teammates and the CFL fans," Manziel tweeted . "My time there re-established my love for the game of football and the work that goes into it. I look forward to exploring new options within the United States."

One option for the former Texas A&M star and onetime Cleveland Brown could be the Alliance of American Football, which kicked off its inaugural season earlier this month. Manziel said he was intrigued by the prospect of playing in either that or Xtreme Football League, which begins operation next year.

In December 2017, CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie announced the league would approve a contract for the former Cleveland Browns first-round pick, who at the time was on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats negotiation list. But Manziel had to fulfill certain requirements to join the league.

The league's due diligence included an assessment by an independent expert on domestic violence and a face-to-face meeting between Manziel and Ambrosie.

Exactly what conditions or requirements that were broken or violated weren't divulged. Manziel had sought treatment for anger management and alcohol abuse as part of his acquittal on a 2016 charge of domestic violence.

Steelers hope to see less of Brown if trade happens

INDIANAPOLIS - If the Pittsburgh Steelers trade star receiver Antonio Brown, they'd prefer to send him to a team they don't play often.

But general manager Kevin Colbert says that calculation could change depending on the offer.

Colbert made the comments Wednesday during the NFL's annual scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Brown's future has been one of this offseason's biggest stories ever since he began openly lobbying to find a new team. Some believe the comments have lowered Brown's trade value.

Colbert disagrees and says the Steelers are prepared to keep Brown if they don't get equal value in return for one of the league's top playmakers.

Eagles agree to let Foles seek starting job in free agency

INDIANAPOLIS - Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman says the team will not use its franchise tag on quarterback Nick Foles and instead will let him become a free agent.

Roseman told reporters Wednesday in Indianapolis the decision came after Foles expressed his desire to become a starter during a recent meeting.

Foles was Carson Wentz's backup each of the past two seasons but finished both seasons as the starter. He was the Super Bowl MVP after leading the Eagles to their first NFL title since 1960 last February. This year, the defending champs lost in the divisional round.

Roseman said the Eagles were "fortunate" to have a top-15 quarterback mentoring Wentz. Foles was a third-round draft pick in 2012.

Honda Classic gets only 3 of the world's top 20 players

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are among the golfers who live in the vicinity of PGA National and may very well be home this weekend. They just won't be playing at the Honda Classic.

The condensing of the PGA Tour schedule is forcing players to make some tough decisions, and the Honda Classic didn't exactly benefit from a lot of those choices. Only three of the top 20 players in the world ranking are in the field for the event beginning Thursday - No. 3 and defending champion Justin Thomas, No. 4 Brooks Koepka and No. 9 Rickie Fowler.

Next up: No. 21 Webb Simpson and No. 23 Gary Woodland.

No. 20 Virginia Tech topples No. 3 Duke with Zion out

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Ty Outlaw hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 88 seconds left and No. 20 Virginia Tech beat No. 3 Duke 77-72 on Tuesday night while Blue Devils star freshman Zion Williamson sat out his second straight game with a sprained right knee.

Kelly Blackshear Jr. had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Ahmed Hill scored 17 points for Virginia Tech (22-6, 11-5 Atlantic Coast Conference), which beat Duke at Cassell Coliseum for the third straight game. The Blue Devils (24-4, 12-3) had been the only team in the country yet to lose on the road this season, but Duke hasn't won at Virginia Tech since Feb. 25, 2015.

RJ Barrett scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, but it wasn't enough to keep the Blue Devils from dropping out of a first-place tie with No. 2 Virginia Tech and No. 5 North Carolina in the ACC. Cam Reddish added 17 points as Duke dropped its second in three games, including an 88-72 loss to UNC when Williamson was injured Feb. 20.

The Hokies seemed to have taken control with a 9-2 run to open a 68-61 lead with 4:32 to play, but Duke used a 9-2 run to knot it at 70 with 1:51 to play. Outlaw's 3 from the right wing followed a pass from Wabissa Bede, and after Reddish missed at the other end, Nickeil Alexander-Walker was fouled and made both free throws for the Hokies. Alexander-Walker had 13 points.

From wire reports