Bolton stole Manziel’s thunder

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This article was published 19/06/2014 (4122 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Remember the much ballyhooed Johnny Manziel Pro Day back in March when the highly touted Texas A&M quarterback put on a demonstration of his talents for scouts and media?

Running back Kyle Bolton — one of three new players who joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Wednesday — certainly does.

Bolton was personally asked by Manziel — his off-season workout partner — to catch passes for him that day. And on Manziel’s 39th pass of that day (with all of it being broadcast live on ESPN and the NFL Network), Bolton stole a little bit of the spotlight for himself, making a great catch on an out pattern.

“It was all about showing off Johnny,” said Bolton, laughing, “but Johnny made me look really good, too.”

With 16 NFL coaches and general managers in attendance that day, not to mention over 100 credentialed reporters, Bolton’s catch — which USA Today christened the “prettiest catch of the day” — got the grad out of tiny Baker University in Kansas some love, too.

Bolton said his workout with Manziel earned him a long, hard look from several NFL teams, including the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. But nothing further came of it, so he was delighted this week when he got a call from the Bombers, who suddenly find themselves thin at import running back thanks to a knee injury sustained by rookie Paris Cotton in Calgary last weekend and the slow recovery of veteran Will Ford, who is back practising this week but still on light duty.

“Their running backs are banged up, which is why they told me they’re bringing me in,” said Bolton, who also plays slotback and returns kicks. “But I’m thrilled to be in Canada.”

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said Cotton “tweaked” his knee in Winnipeg’s pre-season game against Calgary and will be out of the lineup for a couple of weeks.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek