Pryor ruled eligible for supplemental draft
According to Schefter on ESPN right now. He says he won't be eiligible to practice with the team that picks him until after the 5th game of the season due to his attempts to "circumvent" the draft.
I know, I know - link or it didn't happen - but there is no link on ESPN yet, Schefter just broke the news on live TV.
Quote from Schefter on ESPN live:
League said he undermined the rules of the supplemental draft and therefore he will not be allowed to practice or play with his new team until after the fifth game of the season
Quote from ESPN article:
"... Pryor made decisions that undermine the integrity of the eligibility rules for the NFL Draft. Those actions included failing to cooperate with the NCAA and hiring an agent in violation of NCAA rules, which resulted in Ohio State declaring him ineligible to continue playing college football.
"Pryor then applied to enter the NFL after the regular draft. Pryor had accepted at the end of the 2010 college football season a suspension for the first five games of the 2011 season for violating NCAA rules. Pryor will be ineligible to practice prior to or play in the first five games of the NFL regular season after he signs."
Five other players are eligible to be drafted Monday: former Georgia running back Caleb King, former Northern Illinois safety Tracy Wilson, former Western Carolina cornerback Torez Jones, former Lindenwood University defensive end Keenan Mace, and former North Carolina defensive end Michael McAdoo.
EDIT: link - http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6873163/terrelle-pryor-eligible-nfl-s…
EDIT #2: ESPN now reporting that he can play in preseason games:
The NFL said that Pryor can play in preseason games after he is drafted and signs but he is not eligible to practice with his new team or play in a game until Week 6 of the season. Pryor will be allowed at his new team's training facility for meetings and to work with coaches during the time he is ineligible, however.
And also verifies that Rosenhaus is an ass:
Rosenhaus also said that NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith and commissioner Roger Goodell worked together for the arrangement that will allow Pryor into the draft with a five-game suspension. "The five games we happily agreed to, voluntarily," Rosenhaus said. "The alternative wasn't very attractive. We're grateful for the chance."
link - http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6873163/terrelle-pryor-eligible-nfl-s…
August 18th, 2011 at 9:32 AM ^
5th preseason game?
August 18th, 2011 at 9:36 AM ^
Edited - just woke up must have heard it wrong and rewound the DVR to check lol, thanks.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:34 AM ^
Bad news for OSU. This probably means the NCAA has uncovered additional violations in its investigations.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:36 AM ^
Can you elaborate?
August 18th, 2011 at 9:37 AM ^
Sorry but what does Pryor being eligible for the draft have to do with the NCAA looking into OSU? I wasn't following the whole situation so I apologize if this has been discussed some place else.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:41 AM ^
Pryor did some lawyering and they provided some details that showed Pryor would have been suspended for the entire 2011 season if he would have cooperated with the NCAA. Thus, he should be elligible for supplemental draft.
I believe this had to do with receiving payments from Saranik (sp?) and other NCAA violations. What a lot of the UM fan base is hoping for is that the new info revealed to the NFL, will be noted by the NCAA and additional findings will be submitted to Ohio.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:44 AM ^
But if you read the press release, the NFL is bending the rules for Pryor. The NFL's decision was not based (at least officially) on additional violations by Pryor. It was based on Pryor talking to an agent. The NFL is making no sense here.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:57 AM ^
The NFL press release is very vague and provides no details. Will anything come of this, I doubt it.
But it's very likely that Pryor, to one degree or another, showed why he failed to cooperate with the NCAA.
Do you think the conversation went like this?
NFL: Why didn't you cooperate with the NCAA?
Pryor: Because I didn't want to
NFL: OK, you're good to go
Does the NFL really want to get involved in the NCAA process? I highly doubt it. I'm sure it would be up to the NCAA to request transcripts (if they exist) of interviews between Pryor and the NFL.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^
However, what you are postulating is that the NFL's decision was based on legitimate grounds, but that they kept those legitimate grounds secret and instead justified their decision with a ludicrous explanation. I don't buy it. Why give a ridiculous explanation if you have a good one? That just invites people to complain and undermines public confidence in your organization.
August 18th, 2011 at 5:49 PM ^
Are you suggesting that now that Pryor is in the draft, the NCAA can take a hike?
August 18th, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
that's exactly right. Not ot mention that it runs counter to what OSU is claiming knowledge of. If it comes out that the school knew about these additional violations and failed to report/act...hello LOIC and Failure to Monitor.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:15 AM ^
I think that is quite a leap. In reality I agree with you, it should mean LOIC and failure to monitor, but as has been the case since the start of all this, I will believe the NCAA will give sufficient punishment to OSU when I see it. I just don't have any faith at all in that mockery of an organization.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:10 AM ^
Chris Mortensen (ESPN) reported yesterday that TP's attorney told him that TP had disclosed additional violations to the NCAA in May. Specifically, TP told the NCAA (and provided bank documents) that he and his mother have been taking money from Ted Sarniak since he has been enrolled at OSU, knowingly violating a ruling the NCAA made regarding Sarniak back in 2008. Today, the Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Sarniak was paying for some (all?) of TP's cars. According to TP's attorney, TP provided the NFL with the same information he provided to the NCAA in May as part of his efforts to convince the NFL he should be declared eligible for the supplemental draft.
Unless TP's attorney is lying, it is impossible to see how the NCAA does not issue a second NOA to OSU after it concludes whatever remaining investigation it has underway into TP's cars and relationship with Dennis Talbott. Just like with Jim Tressel, Terrelle Pryor has now "admitted" to additional violations and has provided the NCAA with corroborating paperwork. The NCAA does not have to "discover" anything.
FWIW, here is the link to today's Columbus Dispatch article:
http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/stories/2011/08/18/pryor-got-help-pa…
August 18th, 2011 at 10:23 AM ^
So Archie and Tressel both were in constant contact with Sarniak, the guy who apparently was still giving Pryor money/benefits while Pryor was at OSU. That doesn't sound like a problem at all...
August 18th, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
Deny deny deny
August 18th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
OSU is stonewalling very, very aggressively in terms of refusing to turn over documents to ESPN and other media outlets under numerous FOIA requests. A large portion of those documents are emails, phone records and other communications between Sarniak and Tressel/Archie/Others at OSU. If ESPN wins the lawsuit and those documents show that OSU knew that Sarniak was giving TP cash or paying for his cars, etc., it's going to get ugly.
It is possible that OSU didn't actually know that Sarniak was still paying Pryor (or at least possible the NCAA will never be able to prove that OSU knew). Still, TP's high profile and the fact that OSU had to report secondary violations arising out of Sarniak's involvement in TP's recruitment to OSU in 2007 should have put OSU on notice that it needed to keep a close eye on Sarniak and Pryor. I am not sure that OSU's standard operating procedure of claiming igorance whenever any NCAA violations are discovered will be accepted by the NCAA in this instance.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:38 AM ^
After reading the story that just appeared on ESPN, it sounds like the NFL bought the whole "I hired an agent, and therefore I am ineligible at OSU" argument. What a crock.
What's to prevent any college player from gaming the system in the same fashion? Are you kidding me?
August 18th, 2011 at 9:42 AM ^
exactly! Even in their decision they said that he underminded the integrity of the draft, yet still didn't seem to think that was reason enough to prevent him from participating.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:48 AM ^
Several players have avoided the draft in order to not be picked by an organization they didn't want to play for. That's why the NFL decided players would need to be ineligible in order to apply for the supplemental draft.
That said, it's pretty obvious that Pryor wasn't going to be eligible regardless.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:57 AM ^
You went from point A to point lolwut? on that post.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:39 AM ^
http://twitter.com/#!/adamschefter
edit - sorry late on the link.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:40 AM ^
Wank. I wanted him to get pissed and talk.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:44 AM ^
Stay in college, sit out the first five games. Bolt to the NFL, sit out the first five games. Fitting.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:46 AM ^
It isn't really a punishment for him in the NFL, he wasn't going to be playing anyway.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:01 AM ^
But now he doesn't get to practice. More importantly, I'm guessing he doesn't get paid.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:09 AM ^
eh, i think it's at least a little bit of punishment since it lowers his draft stock even more
August 18th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
I would argue it lowers his stock significantly. Pryor isn't exactly known as being particularly bright, so if a team is using (wasting?) a pick on him to play QB, not only will he not be able to play the first 5 games, but he won't start doing anything with the team until then either, and likely won't be able to play until game 10 or later, even as a back-up.
Basically, the team will be getting their 2012 pick 8 months early, which isn't bad. But he's still not a high round pick.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:44 AM ^
This is the NFL trying to help NCAA out by holding players accountable for NCAA transgressions....this is gonna get interesting fast....especially in light of Miami investigation!!!
August 18th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^
Taclcelm;
“Trying,” is the key word. Unfortunately the NFL should have simply held Pryor accountable by ruling him ineligible instead of trying to hold him accountable with such a lax compromise. It amazes me how the NFL, a league concerned so much about its public image especially following the lockout had a chance to make a statement and not undermine its own rules by simply ruling Pryor ineligible. Yes, I’m a Michigan homer, but what value does Pryor have in the grand scheme of things to warrant the NFL bending their own rules.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:44 AM ^
He might as well hold out.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:47 AM ^
Is there any precedent for this?
August 18th, 2011 at 9:56 AM ^
I dont think so. But this is the NFL and it is their rules and since the supplemental draft is not a big thing, I am pretty sure it is case-by-case to begin with.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:47 AM ^
Unless the team that picks him is desperate for ticket sales, I don't quite suspect him to see the field at all this year, so missing the first five games should be no surprise...
August 18th, 2011 at 9:49 AM ^
Missing practice through the first five games is kind of a big deal, especially for a guy not a lock to stick.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:55 AM ^
I fully suspect him to flame out quickly in the NFL. He throws a good deap ball, but everything else is a shot put. The only place I see him succeeding is at wide-out and I'd be willing to bet TP is too arrogant in his abilities as a QB to ever openly welcome that move.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:53 AM ^
He's a lifelong cheater. No one ever said 'no' to him, they just showed him how to break the rules and get away with it. Eventually it will catch up with him. He's not smart enough to get away with it forever. Just like Tressel wasn't. Eventually he'll surround himself with the wrong people. Someday, we'll see a 30 for 30 episode, he'll be middle aged. wearing an orange jumpsuit, talking about how he found God and learned his lessons.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:57 AM ^
I don't like him, but I don't ever wish someone to mess up bad enough to wind up in prison. That's just more tax dollars you and I will have to pay...
August 18th, 2011 at 10:13 AM ^
I did not know is college career is considered the entirety of his life. In that case, I am a lifelong alcoholic. Let the kid, yes lets remember he is a kid, get drafted and then disappear when he cannot make a team next season.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^
Bit of a leap to equate student binge drinking in college with taking tens of thousands of dollars in illegal (from a NCAA perspective) benefits as the top ranked college football prospect, no?
August 18th, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
I was pointing out the flaw in logic equating him with a lifelong cheater.
August 18th, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^
to equate an allegation with fact, isn't it? Tens of thousands of dollars? So you can make an assumption based on an allegation and put forth a value assesment on the person's entire life? Not contradictory at all.
August 18th, 2011 at 11:38 AM ^
Maurice Clarett is that you? Pryor will probably follow the same path he did and whine to come finish his degree in 5-10 years after the fact. I'm assuming he probably took a cakewalk course that won't help him get a good job in life anyways.
August 18th, 2011 at 5:52 PM ^
How long do you think his NFL money will last? He can't be the thriftiest person in the world.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:54 AM ^
I think this is fair. He will most likely not see action all season because of it and this way the NFL is closing potential loopholes. Case closed. I can move on to reading Game of Thrones.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:00 AM ^
The NFL is altering their typical procedures for a cheater and liar, and I'm not impressed. By holding the whole thing back for Pryor, they are putting the futures, and potentially livelihoods, of other players on hold. And it's possible these are young men who did the right thing or have at least properly paid their due for past mistakes.
The eligible players are former Georgia running back Caleb King, former Northern Illinois safety Tracy Wilson, former Western Carolina cornerback Torez Jones and former Lindenwood University defensive end Keenan Mace.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/08/11/pryor-not-part-nfl-supplemental-draft-yet/#ixzz1VO8T2Naq
And I could be wrong, but couldn't we see Janoris Jenkins' name thrown into that mix as well?
By making all these special reparations just for Pryor, the league sends a dirty message: if you can make us money, we'll bring you to the front of the line. Regardless of what Pryor can do on an NFL field, he'll bring a cloud of hype wherever he goes. I'd doubt that former Western Carolina cornerback Torez Jones would get the same treatment...
August 18th, 2011 at 2:27 PM ^
The other players either failed out or got kicked out of school. I must have missed where a bunch of Tim Tebows randomly found themselves in the supplemental draft to accomodate their mission trips. Every year it is drop outs and cast offs, generally for rules violations like Janoris Jenkins getting busted for weed 3 times.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:59 AM ^
By the time the draft takes place and he joins a team, there will be only a couple of weeks of pre-season. Then, he can't practice for five weeks. A pretty good chunk of the season will have already passed before he can be seriously active. I would think that the loss of so much time along with the character issues might make a difference in terms of compensation, but with the NFL, who knows. I would also think that coming on board this time of year might create accounting issues for teams this late in the year.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:59 AM ^
My question is that if he is not drafted...he becomes a free agent. To me, as a team, I would roll the dice and hope he becomes available via free agency without having to burn a late round draft pick on a athlete with no real defined position.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:00 AM ^
The NCAA, the NFL, the NBA, MLB, NHL, the Catholic League.....doesn't matter. Whatever makes the most FINANCIAL sense to these entities will continue to be the driving factor in any decision they ever make. As long as the NFL and NCAA fail to work together on issues such as cheating and rules violations, stuff like this will never be handled correctly, from a moral and character stand point.
I will step down off my soap box now.