Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel will participate in the developmental Spring League this year as part of his attempt to return to the NFL.

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  Heisman Trophy winner and NFL bust Johnny Manziel says he’s working toward making a comeback.

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  Johnny Manziel said on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” podcast that he and Baker Mayfield are “completely different people” as he responded to the comparisons people are making between the two Heisman Trophy winners.

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The Spring League announced Wednesday that Manziel has signed a deal to play in the Elite D-League, which runs in Austin, Texas, from March 28 through April 15.

“We believe our platform is the ideal forum for Mr. Manziel to enact his NFL comeback,” league CEO Brian Woods said in a statement.

Manziel, who told ABC News on Monday that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, acknowledged in a statement that he has “made my share of mistakes” but said he is thankful for the opportunity to play in the Spring League.

“Football has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Sometimes you take for granted how much you value something until it’s gone. My goal is to make it back to the NFL and I realize I have to earn that privilege,” Manziel said. “The Spring League has provided me with a great opportunity to play ball again, and ultimately, that is all I want to do. I miss the competition.”

The Spring League consists of four teams competing in two doubleheaders, which will be played in April. According the league’s website, 10 NFL teams attended games in 2017 and 22 NFL teams requested game film from last year.

Manziel last played in the NFL in 2015 with the Cleveland Browns, who selected him 22nd overall in the 2014 draft. As a Texas A&M freshman, Manziel won the Heisman Trophy in 2012.

After going 2-0 down within 10 minutes, most teams would have succumbed to a comprehensive defeat away from home.

At least that’s what Christian Eriksen thinks, who starred as Tottenham Hotspur overcame that deficit to record an impressive 2-2 draw at Italian behemoth Juventus on Tuesday.

The Dane bagged the leveller, firing a free-kick past the Old Lady’s wall and beyond Gianluigi Buffon. It completed a turnaround which, for Eriksen, serves as indisputable evidence of an identity change at Spurs.

“Of course, we are building on every season compared to when I arrived here four or five years ago,” Eriksen told The Telegraph’s Matt Law after the Champions League round of 16 tie. “The games against the top teams when you are 2-0 down after nine minutes, you lost 6-0.

“That’s the thing we’ve changed with the manager coming in, with the players we have here. Everyone has grown up and they are not going to lie down if they are 2-0 down anyway.”

In front of an expectant crowd in Turin, Gonzalo Higuain scored twice early on to give an advantage Juventus seldom surrenders. However, the usually resolute outfit was soon overwhelmed by the visitor’s midfield. Mousa Dembele was at his imperious best, Erik Lamela justified his selection in lieu of fan favourite Heung-Min Son, and Dele Alli showed signs of his explosive form from the previous two campaigns.

Related: Dembele the driving force as Spurs shock Juventus

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

But it was Eriksen, an expert infiltrator of space and master of the clipped pass, who drew the most praise. Not bad for a man previously listed alongside the inadequate players acquired using cash from Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid transfer in 2013.

“Tottenham has become, compared to what it was when I came to what it is now, completely different,” Eriksen said. “That’s up to the manager, up to the players and the quality we have in the squad really.”

He added: “We don’t care where we are or what time it is, or which stadium we play in or which we team we play, we always try to dominate, to get the ball forward as quickly as possible and create something.”

Spurs are now out of their toughest spate of fixtures this season. Since the last day of January, the north London club has faced Manchester United, Liverpool, an FA Cup replay against Newport County, Arsenal, and Juventus, collecting three wins and two draws. The second leg with Juventus will be staged at Wembley on March 7.