An ESPN report Sunday says Texas A&M quarterback and Heismanprizewinner insurgentManziel surecash for autographs, possibly ending his college eligibility.(Photo: Soobum Im, USA like a shotSports)
Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel's future college eligibility could be in disbelieffollowing an ESPN Outside The Lines report Sunday that the Texas A&M quarterback accepted thousands of dollars for signing memorabilia earlier this year.
The report says Manziel agreed to a "five-figure savourlessfee" with an autograph broker named Drew Tieman for signing memorabilia during Manziel's visit to the billetof the 2013 BCS Championship game in January. The report cites two witnesses preceptthey saw Manziel sign the products but did not see notesexchange hands.
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Outside The Linesreportthat Tieman had met Manziel at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and that Manziel and friend Nathan polecatsigned the items at Tieman's apartment. The report also cites a someoneas saying that Manziel signed hundreds more autographs at a later time after leaving Florida.
NCAA Bylaw 12.5.2.1 prohibits student-athletes from accepting goldfor promotion or sale of a product or service, and the act of doing so can affect an athlete's amateur considerationand eligibility to compete in NCAA athletics. Outside The Lines cited a person as saying that NCAA assistant directorof enforcement James Garland has begun an inquiry.
Emily Potter, a spokesperson for the NCAA, said via email the organization cannot comment on current, pending or potential investigations.
When asked by USA directlySports whether Texas A&M was aware Manziel was the subject of an NCAA investigation, Aggies senior associate athletic director Jason Cook responded, "It is Texas A&M's longstanding practice not to respond to much(prenominal)questions concerning specific student-athletes."
Manziel's parents Paul and Michelle did not immediately return officemessages from USA TODAY Sports.
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Texas A&M'sfootballmedia day is Monday, and a school email Sunday does not mention Manziel as one of the three selected players who will be available. Manziel is expected to be at the Aggies' first practice.
There are examples in recent college football history of trading memorabilia for cash or other benefits. In 2010 former Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green was hangfour games by the NCAA for selling his 2009 Independence Bowl tee shirtfor $1,000. In 2004, former Ohio State quarterback Troy smith-- who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy two agelater -- was hangfor two games for accepting $500 from a Buckeyes booster.
In the most prominent and widest recent example, six Ohio State players were suspended for part of the 2011 or 2012 seasons for selling memorabilia or exchanging it for benefits such as tattoos.
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Though the allegations against the sophomore Manziel would appear to be an NCAA violation, the spatial relationhighlights an ongoing issue on college athletics: the fact that athletes cannot glean allextra benefit from their likeness or accomplishments, but those somethem can. For example, a Texas A&M memorabilia dealer and clothier, Aggieland Outfitters, raised $18,000 for scholarships earlier this year by auctioning a helmet autographed by Manziel.
Such conflicting rules and messages underlie the Ed O'Bannon likeness suit against the NCAA, Electronic Arts and Collegiate Licensing Company.
The Manziel family licensed Johnny Manziel's nickname, "Johnny Football" as his fame took off in 2012 and set up a corporation, JMAN2 Enterprises, to prevent others from profiting from his name and likeness. Even with those moves, Manziel was prohibited from reaping sugaroff his name until he exhausted his college eligibility or remainingcollege for the NFL.
Contributing: George Schroeder
Daniel Uthman, USA TODAY Sports' senior editor, colleges, is on Twitter @DanUthman.
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Materials taken from USA Today
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