Dez on No Johnny Manziel suspension: 'Hell yeah, I'll be mad'

[Bonecrusher#31]

Dez Bryant on no Johnny Manziel suspension: 'Hell yeah, I'll be mad'
By Will Brinson | NFL Writer
August 13, 2013 10:27 pm ET

If anyone knows about being suspended by the NCAA for something reasonably stupid, it's Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant. Bryant was suspended after lying to the NCAA about working out with and visiting Deion Sanders.

And Bryant says he'd be "mad" if the NCAA ends up not suspending Johnny Manziel -- reportedly under investigation for getting paid to sign autographs -- for possible transgressions.

"Hell yeah, I'll be mad," Bryant said. "I will be mad. But I don't want him to get suspended. I will be mad more at the NCAA on how they do things. I just feel like it's not fair. This is something I have no problem talking about because I feel like somebody needs to say something to him and let it be known how they treat people is not right."

Bryant's beef isn't necessarily with Manziel, as he noted above. It's with an NCAA process that he clearly disagrees with.

It obviously involves his own suspension (even if he ended up doing alright in the draft regardless) even if he thinks Manziel is being mistreated. Bryant said he believes that NCAA athletes should get paid and that they should also be able to profit off of their autographs.

"Yes. He should be able to," Bryant said. "He should be able to sign as many autographs and make as much money as he wants, because it's his name. I feel like he's the one who created it. He should be able to do whatever he feels as long as it's legal and I don't think there's anything illegal about signing a picture of yourself and making money off himself.

"Shoot, the NCAA is making money off of it when they're selling those No. 2 shirts. Why can't he make a little bit of money off of it?"

That's a pretty, pretty, pret-tah good point from Bryant right there. The NCAA already got some egg on its face for selling "No. 2 Texas A&M" jerseys that you could find by searching for "Manziel" in their online store. They're clearly profiting off of Manziel.

But Bryant has no stake in protecting Manziel and just doesn't want to see other skate for similar issues that he faced.

 

[Jon88]

That's how I feel. Why can't players make money?

 

[Bonecrusher#31]

Dez Bryant blasts 'unfair' NCAA
Updated: August 13, 2013, 10:37 PM ET
By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com

OXNARD, Calif. -- The NCAA's investigation of Johnny Manziel brings up bad memories and bitter feelings for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, who was suspended for the final 10 games of his college career.

Bryant has mixed emotions while he closely monitors coverage of Manziel's situation after allegations that the Texas A&M star violated NCAA rules by being paid to sign autographs. While Bryant wants to watch Manziel play this season, he said the NCAA's hypocrisy would bother him if the reigning Heisman Trophy winner isn't suspended.

"Hell, yeah, I'll be mad. I'll be mad," said Bryant, who was a Heisman candidate in 2009 before being suspended for lying to an NCAA investigator about a lunch with former NFL star Deion Sanders that didn't violate any NCAA rules. "But I don't want him to get suspended. I would be mad more at the NCAA for how they do things.

"I just feel like it's not fair. This is something I have no problem talking about because I feel like somebody needs to say something to them and let it be known how they treat people is not right."

Bryant said he feels like he "didn't get the same love" from the media as Manziel when he was under scrutiny by the NCAA. He attributes that to Manziel's status as a Heisman Trophy winner and the popularity of the Texas A&M program.

"I don't think my situation was as [bad] as his," Bryant said. "Johnny Manziel is a great football player. I really hope him the best. I hope he doesn't get suspended. I pray that he don't get suspended, because I love watching him. But as far as the NCAA, I just think they do a lot of stuff unfair."

Bryant also cited the delayed five-game suspension of former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor for accepting improper benefits as an example of the NCAA being inconsistent with its punishment. Pryor was allowed to play in Ohio State's Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas after the 2010 season and entered the NFL's supplemental draft instead of serving his NCAA suspension.

"All I did was lie about going over to somebody's house and I got my season taken away from me," Bryant said. "Still to this day, I think about it. It bothers me. I can't get it back. No matter how much money I make in this league ... that really meant something to me.

"I just think the NCAA, they don't do a good enough job. I just honestly feel like it's about money and TV ratings."

Bryant is adamant that he never accepted any improper benefits at Oklahoma State, saying he lied to the NCAA investigator because he was scared while being interrogated. However, Bryant firmly believes that college athletes should be allowed to profit off of their celebrity status, pointing out that the NCAA sold Manziel's jersey on its website until changing the policy recently after being criticized by the media.

"I feel like players in the NCAA should [be allowed to make money on endorsements and autograph signings]," Bryant said. "Those fans are coming to watch them and support them. Whenever you're in college, it's different. You don't get paid like the NFL gets paid. I think it would be OK to have a little money in your pocket. It's hard in college. You've got to get a job if you can. You've got to practice. It's just hard. Sometimes the training table is not good enough.

"[Manziel] should be able to sign as many autographs and make as much money as he wants, because it's his name. He's the one who created it. He should be able to do whatever he feels, as long as it's legal, and I don't think anything is illegal about signing your name on a picture of yourself, making money off yourself.

"The NCAA makes money off of it when they sell those No. 2 shirts, so why can't he make a little bit of money off it?"

Bryant declined to say whether he had ever considered legal action against the NCAA. He emphasized that his problem with the NCAA is that it doesn't look out for the best interests of the athletes.

"I don't want anything to happen to Manziel, I promise," Bryant said. "I just want them to know what they're doing is not right. They need to know and they need to understand that. Seriously, they really do."

 

[Bluenoser]

That's how I feel. Why can't players make money?

Look at all the shit heads in the NFL that piss their money away and get into trouble. Could you imagine paying a bunch of 19-21 year olds? It would be madness. The players are getting a free education but most of them are not taking advantage of the opportunity.

 

[Bluenoser]

The players deserve something, just not sure about paying them thousands of dollars.

 

[peplaw06]

Look at all the shit heads in the NFL that piss their money away and get into trouble. Could you imagine paying a bunch of 19-21 year olds? It would be madness. The players are getting a free education but most of them are not taking advantage of the opportunity.

So let's just exploit them cause they would be wasteful of the money?

I probably don't spend my money on the best things all the time, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna work for free.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

I don’t watch college football so i don’t know all the dynamics of the NCAA but i think it’s obviously wrong to not allow another person to make money signing their own name. Probably in some alternative universe it makes sense.

 

[Bluenoser]

Well, they are getting 100K education that most of them waste.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Well, they are getting 100K education that most of them waste.

100k education... while having BILLIONS being made off of them.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Well, they are getting 100K education that most of them waste.

Exactly. And it's worth far more than that over the course of a lifetime of earning.

People always think of the Manziels and Cam Newtons when talking about how much money the players make for the school, but what about all the third team guards who barely get on the field but still get that free tuition? They aren't making anything for anyone.

 

[peplaw06]

Well, they are getting 100K education that most of them waste.

Then they're not getting the education, right?

 

[Bluenoser]

I think players deserve something, I'm just not sure paying them is the answer.

I'm talking about paying all players for games not just for signing autographs.

 

[Jon88]

Let's try to get Manziel in trouble, Dez.

Geez, shut up. What happened to you is over.

 

[Bluenoser]

Then they're not getting the education, right?

And who's fault is that?

 

[peplaw06]

Exactly. And it's worth far more than that over the course of a lifetime of earning.

People always think of the Manziels and Cam Newtons when talking about how much money the players make for the school, but what about all the third team guards who barely get on the field but still get that free tuition? They aren't making anything for anyone.

You can't compensate them on some kind of scale of perceived importance to the team, that would be absurd.

But all of them are making money for the school. Even the third team guards are probably freshmen who eventually become starters. If they aren't going to play, they transfer somewhere they will play.

IMO the whole free tuition thing is a cop out. First of all, the price of tuition is completely out of whack. You can say it's 100K education, but it's really not worth that. Secondly, most of these schools don't care about the players' academics, and generally, if a player does well academically it's in spite of playing football, not because of it. Sure, there are the Notre Dames and the Stanfords out there, but by in large, those are the exception.

 

[peplaw06]

And who's fault is that?

Partly the players... but they're not blameless when they're playing football 40+ hours a week.

 

[marionbarberthe4th]

Not to mention the classes are designed as a charade to keep the players eligible .

 

[Jon88]

I'm glad I only paid $2,500 a semester at my school and it's Business College is on the same accreditation level as the Texas A&Ms, LSUs, Texas, etc.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

You can't compensate them on some kind of scale of perceived importance to the team, that would be absurd.

Well, that's exactly why none of them are paid.

But all of them are making money for the school. Even the third team guards are probably freshmen who eventually become starters. If they aren't going to play, they transfer somewhere they will play.

Naw, there are tons of players who never amount to anything, just like in the pros.

IMO the whole free tuition thing is a cop out. First of all, the price of tuition is completely out of whack. You can say it's 100K education, but it's really not worth that. Secondly, most of these schools don't care about the players' academics, and generally, if a player does well academically it's in spite of playing football, not because of it. Sure, there are the Notre Dames and the Stanfords out there, but by in large, those are the exception.

Eh, don't agree at all. Yes, college tuition has gotten completely out of whack, but still, if you're a parent or student himself or anyone else actually writing the checks, yes, it really does cost that much. So it really is worth that much.

And in the abstract the colleges may not care about each individual's education, but that's true of the regular students, too. And actually, college athletes have access to all kinds of help -- free tutors, etc. -- that regular students don't. If your average joe doesn't study and is flunking out of UT, nobody cares. If an athlete is flunking out, he's going to be monitored and helped.

 

[marionbarberthe4th]

How are the players not worth it if colleges bend over backwards to get them ?

Greg schiano took a fucking helicopter to recruit will hill