When did he enroll at Ohio State?
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OT - NCAA Investigating Johnny Manziel for (Allegedly) Profiting from Autographs
Thread over.
I had to do this - enjoy
The NCAA needs to go away.
I hate the NCAA and many believe that rule (forbidding him from profiting from his status as an NCAA athlete) is rediculous, however its a rule and while he is part of the NCAA umbrella, he needs to obey the rules, especially now when he is under one of the hottest burning spotlights that i can remember.
You answered your own question.
So if a rule is stupid, its null and void?
but also, his point reads (to me at least) more like: the ncaa should go away, and this rule is stupid and should go away. it's not null and void, but it should be...
Let me clarify, the NCAA needs to blown up and built from the ground up to govern in todays sports world. You asked why I think that and then went on to write that many people, including yourself, think that the NCAA is enforcing ridiculous rules thus answering your own question.
I see...sorry about misconstruing your point. My point was not to blame the NCAA, since the NCAA didn't cause Manziel to break the rule that every athlete knows exist. Now...blaming the NCAA for lack of enforcement (or uneven administration of those rules) or the rules themselves is fair game.
Interestingly, I was chatting with a guy last night who used to be an assistant bball coach at a D-III school who attended several camps in Michigan (at UM and MSU) in the late 90s/early 00's. Anyway, he said it's shocking how much crazy stuff goes on at the D-I level in terms of recruiting and keeping current players happy, even at the cleaner programs. He's a bit out of the loop since he stopped coaching (now officiates at the D-III level), but still has a lot of connections. I won't repeat the stories, but he did mention a few names and stories from a couple of the Big Ten schools, as well as local Chicago athletes who went elsewhere (especially the SEC).
On topic, he hates that the NCAA rulebook is ridiculously long and arcane, but believes it's almost necessary because people are always finding creative ways around the rules. For instance, he suggests that burner phones and calling cards are still used fairly extensively by recruiters to get around some of the calling restrictions, although less so now that they've amended the texting rules.
Part of the problem, though, is that the rules are very specific and almost always reactionary. Not unexpected in an organization like that, but really hinders the mission.
So I agree that the way they go about business isn't the best way, but they are necessary in concept as an institution to level the playing field.
I know some former college athletes at a D II and a D III school here in state that have claimed impermissible benefits were going on there. Makes you think it must happen at the D I schools too.
This is why it would be better if the NCAA simply sanctioned or performed clearinghouse duties on a lot of the small stuff.
Let schools hold their own camps (1-3 a year) rather than letting these AAU style 7v7 tourneys go on unchecked (read: team principles paying for items, runners etc.). Let a player hold autograph signings and the money is held in trust. Let a musician have sell their songs on iTunes.
There is a difference between a $1000 handshake and the washing the car on campus but to the NCAA they are of equal status.
If you let a player sell autographs (or his jersey or anything else), then he can sell one to a booster for $1,000. It is the same as a $1,000 handshake - except it would be legal if you let it happen. Also, a school could tell a recurit that a booster or two wants to buy his autograph for $10,000 once he is a player at the school. To the booster, the thing purchased is secondary - it is getting money to the player/recruit that is the point.
I gues you could cap the price at $5.00 an autograph right? Fine, then Mr. Booster will take 200 (or 2000) of them.
Ok, only two per customer, right? Then please meet Mr. Booster's 100 (or 1000) friends who all happen to be employees at his company. They all want two autographs and each have ten bucks that they may, or may not, have gotten from Mr. Booster.
The only way to stop all of the possible abuses is to just say no selling autographs, jerseys, socks, etc. The alternative would mean that the better players in college would make a ton of money off of memorabilia, while their teammates do not. It would also open up all kinds of stuff on the recruiting trail.
So when are we officially gonna change his name to Johnny Trainwreck? Seems like he's just a few short steps away from turning into the honey badger.
I think that's a pretty ignorant statement. Have you really put any thought into this kids "transgressions" over the last few months? He's gone to major sporting events, overslept because he was probably drunk the night prior, and possibly took a cut of the millions of dollars people are making off of him.
Something tells me the Honey Badger was up to a little more, and he was not evenly remotely close to the microscope that Manziel is currently under.
Fine, Terrelle Pryor.
if we're ignoring the fact that "transgressions" are against NCAA rules, then I say honey badger's issues aren't a big deal at all either, because smoking weed is no more morally reprehensible than drinking (or especially underrage drinking).
Not really sure what you mean when you say, " Something tells me the Honey Badger was up to a little more." But for now, I'll assume that whatever you mean, it has to do with "pretty ignorant" assumptions.
So, point of my post? If we're ignoring the fact that the two broke NCAA rules repeadly and squandered (and are squandering) an unreal opportunity, then there's really nothing wrong that either are doing. But to ignore that fact is to ignore that some people just suck at making decisions more than regular humans...it is what it is.
I'll concede that the Honey Badger comment was an "ignorant assumption", as I know nothing more than he failed a bunch of drug tests. However, I can't yet say that Manziel sucks at making decisions more than regular humans. Thus far, his transgressions don't warrant the amount of scrutiny he's receiving. He's a superstar athlete/celebrity, but he's also a 20 year old kid.
I guess I'm throwing Manziel under the bus because he seems to have the makings of a professional d-bag, and Honey Badger always gets thrown under the bus too, but he seems like a nice guy who just really loved weed. The biggest tragedy here (to me) is that he loved it so much that he resorted to synthetic weed (ew) and still got caught. Guy's story is sad, Manziel's is annoying.
and how old was the honey badger? they both have made really poor decisions. And the he's only 20 yrs old argument is getting old. We have soldiers younger than him and 18 year olds have helped to elect presidents.
of the "he's only 20 years old" argument.
That is bullshit, it's not an excuse to be a punk or breaking the law. A million 20 year olds go through undergrad every year without getting into a brawl in a bar, not showing for work because they're drunk, or failing drug tests for work. And those that do more often than not face an actual consequence for that.
Maybe these kids don't deserve any special scrutiny, but they do deserve an average amount of scrutiny for really bad judgment.
You're right, a million 20 year olds do exactly that, and an equal amount do the same type of things that he is doing now. At this point, I think his age and the inordinate amount of scrutiny he receives is more to blame than his character or upbringing.
think that an equal amount of 20 year college undergrads get arrested for bar brawls as do not, then I think we're at an impasse.
And those that do get arrested, even if it were a million, I would say they have a character flaw, and no, they don't get to blame it on them only being 20. That's not an excuse. It may be a reason, but it's not an excuse.
And don't get me started on the low character of wearing a Tim Tebow Jets jersey.
The "he's only 20 years old" argument isn't any more tired than the holier than now attitude that many on the internet take when a high-profile college athlete is caught misbehaving. I imagine if any of us were submitted to the same level of public scrutiny that we impose upon college football and basketball players, I'm guessing we probably wouldn't meet the standards that we set for them either.
Manziel is is drinking under age which is illegal and honey badger was smoking weed which is illegal. Honey Badger had a substance abuse issue ans Manziel father believe he's developing a drinking problem. The comparisons seem just about right to me.
Getting drunk and not showing up for a job you volunteered for and also committing major NCAA violations that put your future and your university in danger, no big deal.
He represented everything I adore about LSU football.
College men, from LSU;
went in dumb, come out dumb too.
Hustlin 'round Atlanta
in their alligator shoes.
Gettin' drunk every weekend at the barbecues.
~ Randy Newman
More like Johnny Cash, AMIRITE?
The NCAA does pay its employees
The football players are just interns vying for a job in the NFL.
Now go get me some coffee.
Not the ones that actually make them money...
I see your point, but try asking any intern whether they want a fancier office to work in or a $1,000 check every week.
you could change the system because it seems unfair and quit supporting large institutions that bring in megamillions and instead support the people who don't directly receive any money for their hard work.
Am I the only one that see's the irony of this comment coming on a michigan board? I'm not pointing figures and definitely not judging but we are a large part of the problem.
the double irony in that we judge the hell out of students for buying fewer tickets to games when prices are constantly rising and regulations in how they can use their tickets are implemented?
tickets at this point. Brandon is literally pricing out 50-60% of UM's fan base with dynamic pricing.
Let me guess, you're in favor of bringing back indentured servitude for everyone, right?
Let me guess, you're in favor of taxpayer-funded Escalades and diamond grills for every football player, right?
There, now it's a fair fight between our two absurd straw men.
unpaid interns also being compensated?
Would they take just any unpaid internship that came along, or did they specifically want the one at Google?
b/c he said, "look at Oregon's fancy new facilities," and Google is known for their fancypants buildings.
I know what you're getting at, but my point is, Google's fancypants building (and the name you get to put on your resume) makes it a coveted internship. Since there's a reason people actively desire a Google internship over just any internship, there must be compensation involved, even if it's not in the form of a paycheck.
Likewise, athletes that claim the facilities at Oregon (or any other school) as part of the reason they went there can't really also make the claim that they're uncompensated. Non-athletes don't get to hang out in the palace, after all.
but at the same time, would these corporations (NCAA included) be building these facilities unless they if they didn't think that it is cheaper to make nice facilities than it is to directly pay interns (and players).
That's one possible way of looking at it, but I think there's a different reason for each. In Google's case, no amount of money can convince a salaried worker to stay at work for overtime, but a fancypants campus could. And does, in fact. Google's main motivation is to incentivize their workers to stick around.
As for Oregon, actually I think it'd be much more cost-effective to pay the players directly. For the amount of money we've seen that players can be bought for (like, four or five figures, tops) Oregon could've taken the $68 million and paid thousands of players. If they get a $10,000 stipend per season - way above what's being talked about - Phil Knight could've paid Oregon's share of stipends for 800 years.
I'm pretty sure they already get more than that. When I played in college, guys would get checks for a little over a grand per month. That's assuming they didn't live in student housing. That was about 10 years ago and at a MAC school.
Does anyone here actually know what they get monthly?
When I was a student at Michigan just over ten years ago I remember the football players mentioning the monthy stipend they got. Unfortunately, I can't remember what it was (although it's probably public record), but I do remember I was shocked they could complain about that money.
It surprised me as a lot at the time, to a guy who was paying through college and covering all of his own food and fun himself. And the summer jobs they were set up with for additional money paid more than I was making.
A free degree at a premier university, plenty of spending money, and the greatest developmental program for the pros an athlete can have. I don't care how much athletic departments make in return. The players whose likeness they make money off of are the ones who make millions a couple years later, and the ones who don't get all the above free even though they aren't cut out for the top level of the sport.
What's Manziel's motivation here? His family is already loaded, and he was surely aware that the action was against NCAA regs.
On the other hand, how does the NCAA confirm this? Do they just accept the testimonies of those supposedly there? It's not like they have any authority to subpeona bank records or anything. If such testimony is sufficient, it seems like it'd be easy for a couple people to invent a story about any player they didn't like.
From what I can see on the NCAA's website, violating the "cooperative principle" has pretty vague consequences. I'm not sure I've heard of a case where a player lost eligability for telling the NCAA to take a hike, or if that has come up to date.
I would also be interested in seeing how it would play out if the bank account was a joint account with his parents (which based on what's been said about the family's wealth I would imagine is the case). All he would need to make a case that he is "fully cooperating" and not have to turn over the statements is have his parents tell the NCAA off.
He walked away from his remaining eligibility to avoid the cooperative principle.
Just because his family may have money does not mean he is opposed to making more money especially his own. Especially if the reports are true that the amount was in the 5 figure range.
Some of the world's most wealthiest people are driven to make that extra cent at all costs.
...or is Manziel the new Tebow? I'm tired of hearing about him on ESPN 24/7...I absolutely didn't want Manti to win the heisman but at least we wouldn't have to hear about him all the time if he woulda won...Rant Over
I wouldn't be so sure about Manti. If he had won the Heisman (and if the public never found out he was making up a fake girlfriend) he would be getting this Manziel like hype. I have no doubt about that.
The whole month of September (and most of October) last year was commentators and ESPN completely drooling over this guy non-stop. It was never ending. He suddenly became the first football player in history to play a game after losing a family member. Then you combine that with the Notre Dame factor, where they get over-hype simply for beating teams like Navy. That equals out to one big media drool fest.
The Manziel hype is tiresome, yes. But better he than Te'o or some other Notre Dame player.
More of what I was getting at was Manti has moved on to the nfl and Johnny's still around which means at least another year of this guy unless something dramatic happens...which for him is a almost weekly thing because he's a 20 year old in college
$60,000 Escalade, new house, new suits, and ability to support 2 children? Can't wait until Emmert gets fired. I also wonder what role Carr has in this investigation. It'd be nice if it signaled a new era of enforcement.
Johnny Manziel and Amanda Bynes would make a good couple.
If Manziel gets caught, do you think that will hurt his NFL stock more...i.e. How in the hell did you get caught by THEM (NCAA)...
Emmert does what the college presidents want him to do. When he stops, he'll be fired.
I agree that it should be investigated. And I have no real knowledge about how these things work except in the context of people taking on financial aid for school but...
Could he have been taking out loans for all those things? If I'm a bank, I'd be willing to bet Richardson is gonna make back the money to pay for all that stuff, and he'd be willing to sign up at a really high interest rate.
What a trainwreck!
are loaded. He already has expensive cars, electronics, etc. from his parent's money soooooo
Agreed. I think the $10,000 jockstrap problem is a big reason the NCAA doesn't let players sell their own stuff. I think the whole thing could be mitigated quite a bit if the NCAA set up a clearinghouse type thing with set prices for certain items, through which players could sell stuff and get the money when they graduate or turn pro.
Guaranteed that if they just open the floodgates to sell things, boosters at various schools (cough Alabama cough) will pull kids aside during recruiting and let them know there's a $10,000 check with their name on it as soon as they sign that LOI if they happen to have a spare practice-used sock lying around.
The only reason Ohio didn't get popped for this very thing during Tatgate was Pryor suddenly decided to go pro and enter the Supplemental Draft, which put him out of reach of the NCAA investigation.
Not quite right. This is part of what people misunderstand about the NCAA, I think.
It's not that the NCAA is uninterested, it's that they are incapable. We're talking, mostly, about two sports with hundreds of teams and thousands of athletes, and millions upon millions of fans (many of whom qualify as "boosters").
And we're talking about a complex, intensive series of regulations... That aren't even a part of civil law.
There is simply no way the NCAA can monitor all this. It's impossible. They aren't nearly big enough, and they have very little coercive power. None at all for ex-players.
The reason the NCAA borrows information from other sources is because it has no other choice.
..until I read the transcript of the NCAA investigator carefully walking Tressel through his testimony, pushing him back on-message when he got our of control and the truth threatened to slip out, even going off record when necessary to get him back on track. Tressel couldn't possibly have had better counsel...but it was the person assigned to interrogate him.
It's rare that we get that kind of inside view of an investigation, and for me it was an eye-opener.
Athletes should be allowed to make any money on the free market that they want, just like any other student can. That being said, Manziel is a walking advertisement for making the Heisman "upperclassmen only."
You rooting for the Heat to threepeat as well?
Only if Juwan is still on the roster.
I hope so too. I think all the problems about him are overblown. So he likes to party. What 20 year old in college doesn't? JFF is the truth.
The story should be less about the usefulness of NCAA rules and more about how stupid Manziel has to be to do something like this.
He was probably the only person standing in the way of Alabama. Just give them the Crystal Ball now.
I don't know. I want to see how Oregon performs with their OC in charge now, and I think Stanford might be able to go toe to toe with Bama. I don't think they'd win, but it'd be close if Stanford plays up to its abilities.
or gets arrested or gets in a wreck or ...
SEC East has a winning record against the West. Alabama is the best team in the conference. The next three are in the East.
I think that holds with or without Manzel
I'm in. My email is [email protected]. Email me.
Do you still have this one?
I'm in. Jmatthe313 @gmail.com if you have any more
Because it appears there's about to be a train wreck up in there.
A few years down the road, I could see a "30 for 30" on Johnny Football, going the same route as Todd Marinovich. Hope he can pull it together.
It's been fun taking shots at OSU, but even then I thought getting busted for trading autographs for tattoos was ridiculous.
With the current lawsuits against the NCAA, the fact that they are making a huge deal about a player making money off of his own signature is such a double edged sword. Does NASA punish astronauts for autographs? Why the hell can the NCAA suck money out of these athletes and get mad when the kids make money on their own?
See, I've always thought that the reason it was covered up was that Jim Tressel, like many of us, thought that it was a stupid rule not worth ruining a kid's career over.
My favorite part of this Manziel allegation is the Ohio fans trying to compare it to Pryor. There is no comparison. Ohio State's head coach knew of the violations, lied about it, and played players he knew were ineligible.
Not to mention the Ohio State players were trading not only autographs but team rings, awards, and uniforms with a drug dealing felon.
If you want to compare the suspensions the players got remember that it appears the Johnny football got considerably more money, I suspect that would be a factor in suspension length.
Bad analogy. NASA did punish astronauts for selling space trinkets.
not "space trinkets".
It has become abundantly clear that Manziel is just dumb.
Guilty
"Even though Manziel is not allowed to generate income from his signature, the Manziel family has sought to protect Johnny's business affairs by starting a corporation, JMAN2 Enterprises, which in February filed for the trademark to use "Johnny Football" when he was ready to leave the college game."
You know, it is possible to per Bylaw 12.5.1.3 to continue in promotional activities provided a few things are true. You would either need to have been in business before you enrolled at school and/or come into the activity independent of your athletics ability. You would also have to forego any reference to your athletics affiliation and refrain from endorsing any specific product. The bylaw also talks about the rate of remuneration being commensurate with the trade and not a rate based upon one's athletic reputation.
I could be wrong, but trying to patent "Johnny Football" under the guise of protecting a corporate brand seems like a somewhat cynical ploy to avoid the repercussions.
Over privileged rich kid from Texas who happens to be good at football turns our to be a petulant douche with no concept of boundaries or consequences. Bit "on the nose" isn't it?
Ah yes, a class warfare monger. Sign of the times in this country.
It's just the non wealthy kids don't get labeled as douches.
I think people who comment on others finances generally lack decorum and the basics of etiquette, thereby being douches themselves.
I'll cut a kid more slack if he comes from a rough/poor background and simply doesn't always have a solid grasp on "how to act" when thrust in the limelight... but when you're a guy who grew up with every advantage, supportive parents etc. and you still can't seem to "get it right" the sympathy fades a bit more quickly. He knows what to do, he just can't manage to do it because he has this sense of entitlement. At least that's how he comes across.
I don't think the kids a douche at all, I think you calling him a douche shows how intelligent you are. The kid in college he can't enjoy his life at all because of the media and douches like you. Get a life, Cone on Man!!!
What news have you been following? Lets see, gets pissy on twitter over a ticket on his Mercedes, gets sent home from the Manning camp because he can't "wake up", shows up unannounced at a frat party on the campus of an arch rival and gets pissy when they boot him... And that's what? The last 3 months? You're right. Model citizen.
So you've never bitched about a ticket, overslept, or gone to a frat party at another school?
Either his coaches and parents have really failed him in teaching him how to deal with being a student athlete in the spotlight (even no-name members of a major D1 team are often local celebrities and get major attention) or he was/is not listening/does not care. Fair or not, one of the major drawbacks to being a successful athlete is that everything you do is up (fair or not) for criticism. He cannot expect to act like any other 20-year old kid, because he simply is not just another college kid.
You're comparing his status to "no-name members of major D1 teams"? He is quite arguably the most famous athlete in the country right now. There is not another college athlete that can appreciate the position he is in. We are not talking about him punching a girl in a bar, failing multiple drug tests, etc; it's oversleeping and tweeting. I'm not excusing his actions, but one has to keep some perspective. Also, how the hell do I break a paragraph?
That would be some good television
Is that prison in Kangsas?
Be good!
The NCAA is such a joke. Every television station, the NCAA and A&M make millions off of this kid. How dare he make money off of his own signature!
While I agree with you on that rule. Fact is, at this time it is a violation and it doesn't mean that you can disregard the rule because you don't believe in it. You can only challenge the rule with facts and intellect going forward in hopes of change. Consequences come as a result of current actions.
Every single athlete in every sport in the ncaa's knows what they can or cannot do to make money before they sign on the dotted line. The excuse of well yeah but that was before I came out of no where and beat the dynasty perrenial national champions does not hold up. Every athlete is warned of the restrictions they will be under for 4 years. And as far as I've heard, every scholarship athlete still signed on the dotted line.
But I would gladly sign my likeness over to EA sports for free room and board on top of free education. I would work a couple jobs or three for 8 months to take 1 semester at a time. It took a long time but I graduated with no loans to pay off but again, it took a loooong time. Want a pic of my face and I get those 4 ex yrs back? Yes please!!
That will be $400 young man. Game used. Cash only.
he could challenge it. He could have had his payment put in escrow and have it go to charity unless he won his challenge. Instead he has his dad calling his autographs forgeries. I think this is a case of someone who is used to getting special treatment and doesn't worry about getting in trouble..
a Heisman Trophy winner does need beer money.
Hell we all need beer money lol
As if all of this wasn't enough for Manziel, I think he's going to come crashing back to reality after the Alabama game. You can bet that Saban has had this game circled on his calendar and fresh in the minds of every single player on his team since last November. A&M might be ripe for an ass kicking.
I saw something online about how all the weight stations in the Alabama weight room have Texas A&M towels or something on them. Also apparently Saban has the A&M cotton bowl victory on repeat in the facilities.
So, yeah, circled in red.
I know, I know, I'm sick of hearing about this kid too,
80+ comments, yeah you guys all seem real tired of this kid's story.
Alabama at TAM
in case anyone was wondering. If guilty I would guess the 5 game suspension is standard, he'd miss Rice, Sam Houston, Alabama, SMU and Arkansas
Outside of LSU and Bama, TAM's schedule seems pretty soft.
The kids a fool. I realize how young he is and the microscope he's under but come on? He's very self destructive.
How dare he profit off his own name? Doesn't he know that belongs to ea sports to profit off fair an square?
hopes he's not eligible, it would make their road much simpler, for that reason alone I hope he's playing.
He certainly didnt get paid for his guest apperance at the University of Texas frat party.
He got paid. 10 cent refund on those cans that got thrown at him. Money in the bank!
I'm a skeptic about profit-sharing, because I think it's a Pandora's box; but this could blow open the issue in the public eye and in the Obannon case. The NCAA may be backed into a corner here.
Manziel may be college football's Curt Flood.
Yes I'm an Aggie (so I'm biased), but I doubt this story is true. His family is LOADED. They don't need $50k. JFF has made some poor choices this off-season, but I don't see him jeopardizing his eligibility over something he doesn't need.
I dunno man. Manziel is slowly but steadily moving into what Bill Simmons calls Mike Tyson Territory, where no possible news story, regardless of absurdity, would be disbelieved. We're not all the way there yet, but at this point, if there was, say, a story claiming Manziel was caught in an underground poker ring, would people believe it? Probably.
Because rich kids never do dumb stuff? Just because his family has money doesn't mean Manziel isn't a goober.
Dude is a scrub but something tells me hes loving all the media attention
who happen to won the Heisman Trophy last season.......
Lol that's what I was thinking
A scrub is a guy that can't get no love from me, hanging out the passenger side of his best friends ride trying to pass some illegally signed merch to me.
While Manziel's father, Paul, had alleged that many of the items were fake, two of the leading autograph authentication companies, PSA/DNA and JSA, have authenticated many of the items. Officials with both companies have told ESPN in recent months that they stand by their guarantee that they believe the signatures, some with inscriptions like "Gig 'Em" and "Heisman '12" are genuine. Online verification databases show a single lot of 999 signed Manziel photos numbered sequentially. JSA authenticated 248 items and 376 items that came in in two batches that also are numbered sequentially. Industry insiders say this indicates the signings were done in large quantities intended for wholesale.
Please, some of you are funny. What exactly has he done to be vilified so much? Gone to NBA finals game,and be invited back into the locker room? How many here wouldn't go, even LeBron feelings aside? How many wouldn't hang out with Drake, or whichever singer's poster you have hanging on your wall, if given a chance? Who wouldn't dance with a hot blonde in a Scooby costume? I don't even think he's a dbag really, I've seen bigger dbags on campus by people who have done nothing to earn it, see the business school.
Dude can ball though. He outplayed Alabama's QB all day that game. Hell, McCarron's last interception would have been a pick six if he threw the ball accurately. Don't say crap about Bama playing a tough one the week before when A&M went an entire season without a bye week.
The game should be interesting, no doubt. Saban has had time to plan, but JF is still learning the offense if anyone watched him through the year. Their O-line is still solid, the left tackle replacing the second overall draft pick was a projected top 15 pick this year. Their front seven on defense is a worry but if A&M gets up quick on Bama again, then they force them to play a game they're not accustomed to.
What exactly has he done to be vilified so much? Gone to NBA finals game,and be invited back into the locker room? How many here wouldn't go, even LeBron feelings aside? How many wouldn't hang out with Drake, or whichever singer's poster you have hanging on your wall, if given a chance? Who wouldn't dance with a hot blonde in a Scooby costume?
How about all that stuff followed by tweeting some whiny Justin Bieber shit about how people need to walk a mile in his shoes?
As a former graduate student/ TA, emo apologies or excuses are certainly irritating. I give you that; heck, I cannot recall how many times we would share over beer the excuses coming from the mouths of 18-20(-ish) year olds. Professors loved them too.
As far as attention whore, sure it certainly helps bring attention. It probably helped win the Heisman, lifted his draft stock, etc., but do you think he really wanted THIS level of attention. The dude is decently smart, assuming he knows the difference between first round money versus second round money, and right now he's likely first round money. Factor in the success of his NFL comparables, i.e. the Russell Wilson's or Drew Bree's, more NFL teams would be willing to risk drafting him in the first round. Why would he take a 5-digit figure, when he obviously can afford the lifestyle he has now thanks to family funds, risk being suspended and drop to post-first round money. I'm just saying, a report from two people who said they saw him sign X, Y, and Z (which is true), and then allege why he signed X, Y, and Z without evidence just smells fishy. JF has stated he has been dupped before by someone in a military uniform asking him to sign memorabilia for charity, only to then to later find it on ebay. I think he's stated it has occurred a number of times, and I
Apologies if I'm overly defending him, I just think he's got some serious skills. I liked Cam Newton for his on-field performance, athletic ability, and command of his offense/team. Newton had more serious history and violations when compared to JF, but people didn't hesitate giving him the Heisman. A freshman with a little bit of swagger, the means, and access to live it up some and it's on both ESPN and TMZ.
Nobody seems to be denying that he's a youngish guy and that the mistakes he is making are made by others. But when you are famous and profess to be interested in winning, you are held to a higher standard. Getting in twitter fights, apparently being hung over at a football camp, and generally being ignorant of how others perceive him and his actions are his own doing.
It isn't about the money at all with Johnny. It's all about the attention. He has proved that he enjoys it.
In other words, an increasingly unlikeable kid is running afoul of an increasingly unlikeable organization for violating one of its most nonsensical rules. Stupidity all around.
Why is signing autographs for alums and boosters to get them to donate okay but this is not? Okay fine, don't pay the players, I personally think they should be but I see the arguments against it and recognize there are some valid points. What's the problem with letting them make some cash on their own time though? If JFF wants to sign autographs, fine. If Denard or Tebow want to sign an endorsement deal with a company let them. If they wanna do commercials for a local car dealership, no problem with it whatsoever. This notion is so arcane and asinine to me. If they're really, truly amatuers and "student-athletes" get them the hell off ESPN, ABC, etc. Cut out these lucractive TV contracts. It's a big multi-billion dollar business to everyone else involved except the athletes. If you want to treat it as such, letting them somehow get a piece of the pie seems fair otherwise cut the shit and let's make it truly amatuer. No college football live, no primetime matchups, no sponsorships, no more of TV networks selling prime ad time during these games.
Nothing will come of this. Now that A & M is in the SEC there is no way Manziel gets suspended.