Terrelle Pryor’s actions at Ohio State, not only left a trail of tears in Buckeye Nation, but changed the rule book in the NFL. Today Roger Goodell set a precedent never before seen in NFL History. The actions of a NCAA athlete can and will affect their eligibility in the NFL.
Based on Mr. Pryor’s actions, I believe it is a fair conclusion that he intentionally took steps to ensure that he would be declared ineligible for further college play and would be able to enter the NFL via the Supplemental Draft,” Goodell said. “Taken as a whole, I found that this conduct was tantamount to a deliberate manipulation of our eligibility rules in a way that distorts the underlying principles and calls into question the integrity of those rules.”
“Mr. Pryor — not Ohio State or the NCAA — made the judgment that he was ineligible for college play, and then took a series of affirmative steps that were intended to, and had the effect of, accomplishing that result,” Goodell said. “Moreover, Mr. Pryor did so in order to avoid the consequences of his conduct while in college — conduct to which he had admitted and for which he had accepted a suspension — and to hasten the day when he could pursue a potentially lucrative professional career in the NFL.”
The NFL Players Union was asked by Terrelle Pryor to appeal the suspension. Veteran players and agents were concerned about the precedent this would set for all future cases of NCAA athletes who get into this sort of trouble. Terrelle Pryor was originally barred from entering the NFL supplemental draft, but Goodell later decided on allowing him to join. However, he would have to serve a five game suspension. This decision has brought many fans, players, and agents questioning why the commissioner chose to get involved with an NCAA matter.
The suspension of five games doesn’t appear to match the same level of severity for previous NFL disciplinary measures. Goodell has made himself easy prey for critics to attack his hypocritical disciplinary rulings. For example, Goodell made clear that he would have suspended Jim Tressel, if the Indianapolis Colts wouldn’t have. Hmm, does anyone remember Pete Carroll? When NCAA violation allegations were really intensifying against USC and Reggie Bush, Carroll jumped the NCAA ship and joined the Seattle Seahawks. However, he still hasn’t served any form of a suspension for any of those violations.
I think Roger Goodell wants to establish integrity in the NFL. But, he needs to have a strong legal team of advisors, who give him sound advice when acting as the only judge of NFL disciplinary matters. It appears right now, he is just marching to the beat of his own drum.
Unfortunately, Ohio State fans will constantly be reminded of the turmoil Terrelle Pryor left Buckeye Nation in. When we here of future Roger Goodell decisions against NCAA athletes, the media will undoubtedly remind us of how this all began. The story will not be about how 18-22 year old kids made some bad decisions. It will be about how Terrelle Pryor and Jim Tressel served NFL suspensions for their actions committed in the NCAA. Another reason why Buckeye Nation needs something positive to come and wipe our negativity away.
