BEREA, Ohio (AP) – Johnny Manziel built his brand and bolstered Texas A&M’s by producing magical moments on the field and winning.
He made the school money and now feels college athletes should be getting paid for their efforts.
On Friday, the Browns rookie quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner said the NCAA should change its rules and allow college athletes to capitalize on their likeness.
Addressing the situation involving Georgia running back Todd Gurley, who was suspended indefinitely on Thursday as the school investigates an alleged violation of NCAA rules, Manziel said he can relate to Gurley’s predicament and believes college players should be compensated.
”I obviously know what Todd’s going through and I feel for him,” Manziel said. ”Obviously ,I don’t know every single (detail) of the situation that he’s in, but at the same time I think he’s done a great job and worked extremely hard to make a name for himself on the football field. He has an image and he has a likeness and he has obviously a want and a need for his autograph – and I feel that if he wants he should be able to have a system that allows him to go out and capitalize from that.”
Georgia officials have not revealed the nature of their investigation. But SI.com, citing anonymous sources, reported Gurley received money for signing memorabilia.
Manziel, who won the Heisman as a freshman with the Aggies, was investigated before the 2013 season when reports surfaced that he received money for signing autographs. The NCAA agreed with Texas A&M to sit Manziel for the first half of the season opener against Rice, with no finding he did anything wrong.
SI.com reported that Gurley is accused of receiving $400 to sign 80 pieces of memorabilia on campus earlier this year.
Manziel said he believes it’s time for the NCAA to take closer look at how the money in big-time college football is being distributed.
”I think it’s at a big crossroads right now with how much money college football in particular is bringing in for universities, for networks, for the SEC for everything of that nature and then guys are walking out with an $800 scholarship check a month,” he said. ”It’s an ongoing thing and we don’t know every bit and piece, but he (Gurley) has built an image for himself. I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon, but at the same time I think it is an ongoing problem in college athletics.”
Moments after speaking with reporters, Manziel offered his support to Gurley by tweeting: ”(hash)FreeGurley.”
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
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