141 replies to this topic

[Oriole85]

We all know that what the NCAA does isn't right. However,  Manziel knows he cant do this stuff. I mean its one thing to find a way to make a few bucks here or there but its pretty bold and stupid to sit in a room and sign hundreds of pieces of memorabilia and allegedly get paid tens of thousands of dollars. This is far more serious compared to the stuff over the last few weeks.  

Just another point -- just because a rule is bogus doesn't mean you can violate it. If so we would have a lot more rule violators in addition to the ones we already have.

[Oriole85]

You have to know when to make a statement, and when to toe the line. Whomever is advising Manziel either made the wrong choice or didn't get through to him at a critical moment.

I'm not sure if it's so much who is advising him as him doing what he wants to do. He made that very clear at SEC Media Day, he wasn't going to change much of who he was. The good news is he has kept his promise based on the last month. 

[You Play to Win the Game]

Just another point -- just because a rule is bogus doesn't mean you can violate it. If so we would have a lot more rule violators in addition to the ones we already have.

 

True. Wasn't so much defending Manziel there as having an outburst over my disgust for the NCAA. What they are doing is just wrong, but sure, it doesn't excuse Manziel, he has to know better than that.

[Adam Wolff]

Meh.

 

Stupid to break the rules, sure. How many college/NFL players are toting guns, involved with individuals in gangs, etc? I.E. real criminal behavior. Give me the guy that's illegally making money off his name over the guys with ACTUAL character issues.

 

And let's get real. A lot of guys are doing this. This whole thing with Manziel is getting laughable to me. He is at very worst doing what most D1 football players are doing, and at best he's not doing nearly the things some of them are doing. I'm just sick of the media's coverage of him.

[Chris B]

I am so over Johnny Manziel stories.

[Zwolfe0]

As an Ohio State fan, I am interested to see how this will play out. Bristol led the charge on Tattoo Gate and a lot of  "pundits" called for Ohio State to get the death penalty. Jim Tressel had created an out of control, toxic, environment blah blah blah.

 

But now ESPN has pretty much purchased the SEC with the latest TV package. ESPN, writers and other networks helped Johnny Manziel win the Heisman because it's more of a PR campaign these days than actual accomplishments. He is Tim Tebow 2.0 that's into drinking and not into charity all that much. Will there be a double standard with Manziel, Texas A&M and the SEC? 

[Oriole85]

As an Ohio State fan, I am interested to see how this will play out. Bristol led the charge on Tattoo Gate and a lot of  "pundits" called for Ohio State to get the death penalty. Jim Tressel had created an out of control, toxic, environment blah blah blah.

 

But now ESPN has pretty much purchased the SEC with the latest TV package. ESPN, writers and other networks helped Johnny Manziel win the Heisman because it's more of a PR campaign these days than actual accomplishments. He is Tim Tebow 2.0 that's into drinking and not into charity all that much. Will there be a double standard with Manziel, Texas A&M and the SEC? 

I don't think so considering they a publishing all of his minor disgressions. I get your point with the SEC contract including the SEC Network, but they have relationships with every major conference and an even bigger one with Texas.

[BSLMikeLowe]

As an Ohio State fan, I am interested to see how this will play out. Bristol led the charge on Tattoo Gate and a lot of  "pundits" called for Ohio State to get the death penalty. Jim Tressel had created an out of control, toxic, environment blah blah blah.

 

But now ESPN has pretty much purchased the SEC with the latest TV package. ESPN, writers and other networks helped Johnny Manziel win the Heisman because it's more of a PR campaign these days than actual accomplishments. He is Tim Tebow 2.0 that's into drinking and not into charity all that much. Will there be a double standard with Manziel, Texas A&M and the SEC? 

 

IIRC, Terrelle Pryor et al were giving away jerseys and such in exchange for the tattoos. Basically items that were provided to them by the university for their use only. As I read this, Manziel was simply putting his signature on items that other people brought. To me, that is a somewhat important, if minor, distinction. Guess we'll find out if the NCAA feels the same way.

[Oriole85]

ESPN: Johnny Football needs a little football

 

http://espn.go.com/b...little-football

 

Pretty much what I've been saying, all this free time without so much structure hasn't been good for him. I think this article makes a good point that his family is somewhat "enablers." They don't like his lifestyle but from what I've read they've paid for free-wheeling lifestyle.

[Oriole85]

David Pollack laying it down on Johnny Football -- saying his age is no excuse and it's one thing when poorer athletes are breaking the rules but clearly Manziel doesn't need the money after his family has funded his lifestyle.

 

Bonnie Bernstein said this earlier, we can have disagreements whether it's fair or unfair that he's not compensated for his autograph. What's not open to debate is whether he's violating the rules. I can disagree with the speed limit on the ICC should be (was 55 - which was ridiculous, now 60), it should be even higher IMO. Does that matter when the cop stops me for going 80?

[Thyrl]

IIRC, Terrelle Pryor et al were giving away jerseys and such in exchange for the tattoos. Basically items that were provided to them by the university for their use only. As I read this, Manziel was simply putting his signature on items that other people brought. To me, that is a somewhat important, if minor, distinction. Guess we'll find out if the NCAA feels the same way.

 

Not feeling your distinction here. Items provided by the University...OK. For their use only...not really. There's nothing wrong with players selling/trading their free gear, the problem is with doing it while they're still student athletes. I'd say trading old jerseys, game balls etc for tattoos is less of a big deal than selling autographs for cash...upwards of $10,000. Now trading for pot or other contraband is another matter altogether. But Manziel got cash which he explicitly knew was a no-go and thumbed his nose at the questions when he showed up at the casino with wads of cash or on the sidelines at the NBA playoffs, attributing his means to a dad with money.

 

I wonder if Kevin Sumlin in his "due diligence" has gotten around to simply asking Manziel if he took a check. I doubt he really wants to know the answer.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Any word yet on how long the NCAA will take to do this investigation? Given how long the NCAA drags these things out, it's not hard to imagine that they might not have a ruling before the first game of the season. If that's the case, this could pose a very interesting dilemma for Kevin Sumlin and Texas A&M....and the SEC too, potentially.

 

If the investigation is not yet concluded by the first game on Aug 31, does A&M let him play and then potentially have to vacate wins if it is found that he's ineligible? Their first two games are at home against Rice and Sam Houston St. Even without Manziel, you'd have to figure A&M would be a heavy favorite. Do you sit him?

 

The third game on Sept 14 is where it really gets interesting. Texas A&M hosts Alabama. If there still isn't a resolution on Manziel, does the SEC step in and rule him ineligible? Consider: If Alabama loses at Texas A&M with Manziel, and A&M is eventually forced to vacate that win, then the SEC suddenly has two of its powerhouse teams with at least one loss. As much as the conference values its run of BCS titles, and would love nothing more than to have another all-SEC title game in the final year of the BCS, do they make a preemptive move? (I guarantee if that situation does arise Nick Saban won't be shy about expressing his thoughts on the matter)

[SammyBirdland]

The same guy selling the Jonny Manziel memorabilia (the_hub_collectibles) has 19 signed Jadeveon Clowney items for sell as well.

 

 

 

http://www.ebay.com/...=r1&_dcat=64482

[DJ MC]

The Long Con: How The Manziels Conquered America

 

A long read, but holy Jesus...

[You Play to Win the Game]

The Long Con: How The Manziels Conquered America

 

A long read, but holy Jesus...

 

Yeah, that's insane. Another great piece of journalism by Deadspin, to be sure.

 

That said, I don't like that they did so much digging into a college kid's life who isn't being paid anything to play college football. He's a celebrity, the information is public, it's out there, so it's fair game, I get it, but I don't think it's right personally.

 

I also don't think the last couple of paragraphs are on point. I don't equate Johnny Football getting a few bucks for autographs to his great and great great grandfather's scams. Not even close.

[Oriole85]

ESPN: Peterson: Manziel should get paid

 

http://espn.go.com/n...ble-profit-name

[Oriole85]

ESPN: Source: Manziel questioned by NCAA

 

http://espn.go.com/c...-6-hours-source

[BSLMikeLowe]

Half-game penalty for Johnny Manziel

 

Could've been much worse.

[Oriole85]

Half-game penalty for Johnny Manziel

 

Could've been much worse.

I'd say all parties should be more than happy with that, I was just hoping he'd play against Bama.

[BSLMikeLowe]

I'd say all parties should be more than happy with that, I was just hoping he'd play against Bama.

 

While the rule preventing him from profiting off his fame is bogus, this is one of the rare instances where I have to tip my cap to the NCAA for handling the situation in a fair and expeditious manner. Rules are rules, and Manziel did deserve some sort of discipline for violating them. Best of all, Texas A&M will not be faced with the dilemma of whether or not to play him and risk having to vacate wins in what they expect to be a very successful season. And as I mentioned earlier in this thread, the SEC won't be faced with the difficult choice of whether to preemptively step in and suspend him for that Alabama game.