Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Tattoo parlor-owner tied to Ohio State scandal pleads guilty -Penguins make official contract offer to Jaromir Jagr -



Penguins make official contract offer to Jaromir Jagr

The race to bring Jaromir Jagr back to the NHL after being away from the league for the past three seasons has officially reached a fever pitch. With both the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins expressing the most interest in the 39 year-old future Hall of Famer the competition to see who can land him is apparently fierce and now his former team in Pittsburgh has made the first move.
Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports tonight that the Penguins have made a one-year offer to Jagr to bring him back to Pittsburgh for the first time since the end of the 2000-2001 season.
Penguins general manager Ray Shero confirmed this evening that he has offered free agent right winger Jaromir Jagr a one-year contract — he declined to divulge the financial aspects of the proposal — and said he expect to learn Wednesday whether Jagr will accept it.
“We feel from the information we have and after seeing at world championships, that he’s a guy who might be able to help us this coming season,” Shero said. “We feel he’s a guy who could help us this year, and retire as a Penguin.”
Shero setting things up to be decided tomorrow helps him and the Penguins better prepare for what will be a busy, but lackluster free agent kick off party on Friday afternoon. If Jagr’s interests lie elsewhere be it in Detroit or somewhere else, then the Penguins can get over the hysteria that’s gripped Pittsburgh wondering if the legendary winger who helped the Penguins to two Stanley Cups in the early 90s will return or not.
The worth of the offer is unknown for now but Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Rob Rossi reports that the offer could be around $2 million for the season. That might sound a bit high for a guy who’s been out of the NHL for three seasons and is 39 years-old, but if used properly and accompanied by the right linemates Jagr could be very productive. With guys like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh or Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg in Detroit, Jagr would be right at home with some of the best players in the NHL.
It’s unknown when or if Detroit’s GM Ken Holland will jump into the fray, but for now and through tomorrow, Jagrwatch is on big time in Pittsburgh.







Tattoo parlor-owner tied to Ohio State scandal pleads guilty

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Tattoo parlor-owner Edward Rife had a lucrative side business selling hundreds of pounds of marijuana in Columbus, a second job that federal prosecutors say allowed him to pay $21,500 for a luxury SUV.
But Rife's guilty plea to drug trafficking and money laundering charges Tuesday might have gone unnoticed had federal investigators not stumbled on another of Rife's sidelines: buying Ohio State memorabilia from football players or giving them discounts on tattoos for the items.
That discovery triggered an NCAA investigation into the school, led to coach Jim Tressel's forced resignation, the departure of star quarterback Terrelle Pryor and the suspension of four players for the first five games of the upcoming season and one game for a fifth player.
The university is still wrestling with the scandal's fallout, which could include a variety of NCAA penalties.
"Guilty, your honor," Rife told U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Frost when asked how he wanted to plead to one count of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 200 pounds of marijuana.
Afterward, attorney Stephen Palmer tried to distance his client from the scandal.
"He was an unfortunate cog in the wheel," Palmer said after the hearing. "He had no intention of harming anyone in the program."
Rife, 31, could face a prison sentence of 20 years for money laundering and up to 40 years for drug trafficking but would likely receive much less under federal sentencing rules. Frost did not set a sentencing date and prosecutors say Rife's cooperation in an ongoing drug-trafficking investigation could determine the length of sentence.
Rife, owner of Fine Line Ink Tattoos and Body Piercings on the west side of Columbus, was allowed to remain free pending his sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Kelley said the government is not assisting with either the NCAA or Ohio State investigations. He also said there was no evidence Ohio State players were involved in the marijuana operation.
In December, Pryor and four other Ohio State players were found to have received cash and discounted tattoos from Rife in exchange for signed Buckeye memorabilia and championship rings. All were permitted by the NCAA to play in the Buckeyes' 31-26 victory over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, with their five-game suspensions to begin with the first game of the 2011 season. Another player, Jordan Whiting, was suspended for one game.
After the team returned from New Orleans, investigators found that Tressel had learned in April 2010 about the players' involvement with Rife.
Rife had met with a local attorney and former Ohio State walk-on player, Christopher Cicero, that month to discuss his case but never hired Cicero. Cicero sent Tressel emails detailing the improper benefits, and the two ended up trading a dozen emails on the subject.
Tressel had signed an NCAA compliance form in September saying he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing by athletes. His contract, in addition to NCAA rules, specified that he had to tell his superiors or compliance department about any potential NCAA rules violations.
Tressel, who won a national championship and seven Big Ten titles at Ohio State, resigned May 30. Pryor also has announced he's leaving Ohio State.
Rife must also forfeit $50,000 in drug proceeds, but if he does that successfully he'll keep the memorabilia found in his suburban Columbus home. Those include Big Ten championship rings, gold pants pendants, autographed items and parts of football uniforms.
"Investigators could not determine whether the seized Ohio State sports memorabilia had been specifically purchased by Rife with narcotics proceeds," Robert Bogner, a special agent in the Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigations unit, testified in court Tuesday.
Bogner said investigators learned of Rife's drug dealing while investigating a major marijuana and cocaine operation in central Ohio.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

NBA Draft FIRST ROUND DRAFT ORDER - 2011 NBA Draft Trade Rumors Heat Up - Sources: Cavs eye Jonas Valanciunas - Ohio St. trustee addresses scandal


NBA Draft FIRST ROUND DRAFT ORDER
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
(from Clippers) Draft History
2. Minnesota Timberwolves Draft History
3. Utah Jazz
(from Nets) Draft History
4. Cleveland Cavaliers Draft History
5. Toronto Raptors Draft History
6. Washington Wizards Draft History
7. Sacramento Kings Draft History
8. Detroit Pistons Draft History
9. Charlotte Bobcats Draft History
10. Milwaukee Bucks Draft History
11. Golden State Warriors Draft History
12. Utah Jazz Draft History
13. Phoenix Suns Draft History
14. Houston Rockets Draft History
15. Indiana Pacers Draft History
16. Philadelphia 76ers Draft History
17. New York Knicks Draft History
18. Washington Wizards
(from Hawks) Draft History
19. Charlotte Bobcats
(from Hornets/Blazers) Draft History
20. Minnesota Timberwolves
(from Grizzlies/Jazz) Draft History
21. Portland Trail Blazers Draft History
22. Denver Nuggets Draft History
23. Houston Rockets
(from Magic/Suns) Draft History
24. Oklahoma City Thunder Draft History
25. Boston Celtics Draft History
26. Dallas Mavericks Draft History
27. New Jersey Nets
(from Lakers) Draft History
28. Chicago Bulls
(from Heat/Raptors) Draft History
29. San Antonio Spurs Draft History
30. Chicago Bulls Draft History





Trade Talks Heat Up as the Time has Come
yahoosports.com
NEW YORK – In a lust to draft center Enes Kanter, the Atlanta Hawks are trying to engage the Minnesota Timberwolves in discussions to trade Josh Smith(notes) for the No. 2 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, sources told Yahoo! Sports.
So far, the Wolves haven’t been forthcoming on a potential deal, but sources say Atlanta was still trying to discuss a deal in the hours leading up to the draft.
The Wolves have privately committed to drafting Arizona forward Derrick Williams with the second pick, but the Hawks want to sell Minnesota on Smith as an open-court finisher to play along with rookie point guard Ricky Rubio(notes). Timberwolves to fire Rambis Jun 22, 2011 Spurs fielding trade calls for Parker Jun 21, 2011 Hawks GM Rick Sund has been hugely interested in Kanter throughout the pre-draft process, sources said, and has clearly been looking to find a deal for Smith. Under the salary cap, the Wolves could absorb the $13 million-plus owed him next season without sending back corresponding contracts.
Several teams trying to trade up into the high lottery of the draft believe Utah holds the key at No. 3, and Utah has left several teams believing that they will draft Kanter over point guard Brandon Knight unless they trade out of the spot.

Cavaliers, Bobcats discuss deal
A fascinating game of cat-and-mouse has unfolded in the middle of the lottery, where the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Bobcats are jockeying to get the players they want out of the 2011 draft.
Cleveland wants to draft 7-footer Jonas Valanciunas of Lithuania, but had a scenario where it could get him and also land the 19th overall pick belonging to the Bobcats, sources said. Charlotte has the ninth pick, and desperately wants Texas’ Tristan Thompson. The Bobcats believe that Thompson won’t get past Detroit with the eighth pick and need the Cavaliers to take him fourth. This way, Valanciunas, who may not be able to join the NBA until the 2012-13 season, would drop to Charlotte at nine, and owner Michael Jordan would trade Valanciunas – with the 18th overall pick – to the Cavaliers for Thompson.
Several days ago, Detroit hadn’t planned to draft Valanciunas, but sources said Pistons general manager Joe Dumars was given the OK by new owner Tom Gores to take Valanciunas despite the fact he wouldn’t be able to join the team this season. This is a problem for the Charlotte-Cleveland deal, and now another has arisen. Several teams believe the San Antonio Spurs’ desire to get the Sacramento Kings’ pick at No. 7 centers on a desire to draft Valanciunas as a future replacement for Tim Duncan, and now Cleveland must draft Valanciunas at the No. 4 spot, or risk losing him all together.
In this scenario, Detroit could land Thompson with the eighth pick, unless the Houston Rockets can convince the Pistons to move back in exchange for the 14th and 23 overall picks.
And yet, sources said, Cleveland is still trying to engage the Toronto Raptors at No. 5 and the Washington Wizards at No. 6 to find a way to get another asset and still end up with Valanciunas.

Cavs keep quiet
As the hours crept closer to the start of Thursday’s NBA draft, Kyrie Irving still didn’t have a commitment from the Cavaliers that he’ll be the No. 1 pick. The Cavs’ front office has been in lockdown mode, offering no suggestions, no scenarios, to prospective players on how everything will unfold.
Nevertheless, Irving is still believed to be the team’s first choice, a move that likely would trigger the Minnesota Timberwolves to select Arizona forward Derrick Williams second overall.
Cleveland had so many scenarios developing – contingencies which come with owning the first and fourth overall picks. The Cavaliers were still trying to parlay their two second-round picks (No. 32 and 54) into a late first-round selection, sources said. Cleveland also has discussed trades for point guard Baron Davis(notes), sources said, but has nothing imminent there.
The Cavaliers are intrigued with several players at No. 4 but have offered the pick in potential trades to teams in exchange for young forwards.

Trade winds
The trade talks between the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers, first reported by SI.com, have traction for one simple reason: The exchange of Lamar Odom(notes) and Andre Iguodala(notes) could provide immense benefits to both teams.

The proposed deal – Iguodala for Odom and Luke Walton(notes) – would give the Lakers an elite wing defender for their championship chase. New head coach Mike Brown wants more athleticism in a younger player to pair with Kobe Bryant(notes) and Ron Artest(notes) to defend the likes of James, Dwyane Wade(notes) and Kevin Durant(notes).

One source involved in the talks said that Sixers coach Doug Collins “thinks Odom can play the [center] like [Mike] Krzyzewski had Odom doing in the world championships.”

Nevertheless, no deal was imminent, and the advanced and complicated sales talks make it harder for Sixers president Rod Thorn to pull off such a major trade, sources said.

More draft news
• As the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks start to retool to try and defend their title, they’re worried they could lose J.J. Barea(notes) to free agency. Another small guard, Isaiah Thomas from Washington, may attract their interest with the 26th pick. The 5-foot-10 Thomas dazzled the Mavericks in a workout this week. They could perhaps still get him with their 57th overall pick, but they’ve never been afraid to make a bold move with a young player whom they like – regardless of where other teams have him listed on their draft boards. The Chicago Bulls will take a long look at Thomas with one of their two late first-round picks as well. Barea’s success in the Mavericksâ championship run is perfect timing for Thomas’ early entry to the NBA. He had a tremendous season for the Washington Huskies, and his speed, explosiveness and scoring ability can be game-changers. Some have compared Thomas to another small guard out of Washington – the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Nate Robinson(notes) – but Thomas is a much better playmaker.

• The Miami Heat adore Boston College’s Reggie Jackson with the 31st pick, but there are questions about him. Jackson has provided no medical records on his knee to teams, and has refused workouts as well as even the most rudimentary of interviews. Several teams with picks in the 20s are still considering drafting him, including the Bulls and New Jersey Nets, but without medical reports it can be hard to guarantee millions of dollars on the rookie wage scale. Riley is intrigued with Jackson’s ability to shoot the ball, and that’s why sources say he prefers Jackson over Duke’s Nolan Smith, the ACC Player of the Year, at that spot.

• The Spurs’ aggressive pursuit of a lottery pick had them trying to get into the early teens, with hopes of using one of those picks to move up even higher in the first round, sources said. San Antonio could get into the late teens – perhaps the Utah Jazz slot at 12 – to draft. The Spurs are enamored with Lithuanian 7-footer Dontas Montejunas, sources said, and could move up to take him in the late lottery picks. Nevertheless, several teams believe San Antonio’s ultimate goal is to parlay that late lottery pick into an even higher spot in the first round. The Spurs are discussing deals involving guard George Hill(notes) to get them anywhere from 11 to 13. They’ve also had discussions about using Tony Parker(notes) in talks to rise up to the Kings’ or Toronto Raptors’ picks at seven and five, respectively.

• The Rockets are offering cash for early second-round draft picks.

• The New Orleans Hornets had no regrets about trading their first-round pick for Jerryd Bayless. They moved him for guard Jarrett Jack(notes), who helped them make the playoffs this season. The Hornets have a second-round pick (No. 45), and have had talks on deals which would get them back into the first round.

• The Atlanta Hawks are getting increased volume on calls for talented forward Josh Smith(notes).

• Marquette’s Jimmy Butler could sneak into the first round with the Boston Celtics at No. 25, but will likely will be gone by the early second round.

• If Miami somehow secures another second-round pick, Riley could make a bid for Wisconsin’s 6-foot-11 Jon Leuer.



Sources: Cavs eye Jonas Valanciunas
The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to take Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas with the No. 4 pick even if Kentucky's Enes Kanter is still available, league sources said Thursday morning.
ESPN.com's Chad Ford, after talking to numerous NBA teams and sources, takes his best shot at how Thursday's draft will play out. Story
Cleveland is still expected to take Duke point guard Kyrie Irving with the No. 1 pick, with Arizona forward Derrick Williams likely to be Minnesota's pick at No. 2.
The Utah Jazz are deciding between Kentucky guard Brandon Knight and Kanter, with Kanter the choice anticipated by several general managers who hold subsequent lottery picks.
The consensus is that Valanciunas will not be able to escape his existing contract with Lietuvos Rytas until January at the earliest, but that does not scare off the Cavaliers, who sources say compare Valanciunas favorably to the Lakers' Pau Gasol.
If the Jazz select Knight and the Cavs take Valanciunas, Kanter could be taken by Toronto as the fifth pick, but certainly wouldn't get past the Wizards at No. 6.
Kanter attended classes at Kentucky but could not play because he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA after playing professionally in Turkey.


Ohio St. trustee addresses scandal
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An Ohio State University trustee says there are no new issues related to the school's recent football troubles.
Real estate magnate Robert Schottenstein's comments Thursday were the first from the board of decision-makers who oversees one of the country's biggest universities.
Schottenstein says the athletics compliance policies are good and the university reported every alleged football team violation it was aware of to the NCAA.
Schottenstein, chairman of the board's audit committee and chief executive officer and president of M/I Homes, did not address the forced resignation of football coach Jim Tressel on Memorial Day.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Here Comes Some Help for the Cavs - Ohio State drops review of players' car purchases - McIlroy says he doesn’t want to join PGA Tour



Here Comes Some Help for the Cavs
according to grantland.com
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
State of the Team: In a season filled with stunning lows, the willingness of owner Dan Gilbert to pay and rebuild already showed dividends in how Cleveland landed the top pick: The Cavs received the draft selection from the Los Angeles Clippers as compensation for assuming Baron Davis' contract. The rebuilding process in Cleveland will certainly take more than one year, but having two of the top four draft selections, even in a weak draft, should provide a measure of hope for a team whose best player is J.J. Hickson.

Stats:
W-L RECORD: 19-63
eFG% RECORD: 19-63
TOV% RECORD: 35-47
REB% RECORD: 32-50
FTA% RECORD: 47-35

BIGGEST WEAKNESS: SCORING

As judged by FG%, the Cavaliers were outshot in 53 of their first 65 games. In their last 10 games, they were outshot only three times. Part of the change can be attributed to the arrival of Baron Davis, whose eFG% (.522) was nearly 0.1 points better than that of the man he replaced, Mo Williams (.424). Beyond Davis, the Cavaliers had 12 other players use more than 15 percent of the team's possessions while they were on the floor. Not one was able to put up an eFG% greater than 50 percent. Davis can create shots for himself and others, which means the offense won't be totally hopeless again in 2011, but Baron is also a perpetual injury risk. The Cavaliers desperately need a wing-scorer. You know, like LeBron James. The defensive side wasn't much better, as they also allowed the league's second-highest eFG% (.524).

Front Office Profile: This will be the first draft spearheaded by Chris Grant, who replaced Danny Ferry last summer. Grant is Ferry's former assistant. Over the past five years, Cleveland selected late in the first round, which gave the front office the leeway of selecting picks that could be considered moldable projects like Hickson and Christian Eyenga. They no longer possess that leeway. The Cavaliers need both of their draft picks to produce immediately. Again, the best player on this team, and the only decent guy under the age of 30, is Hickson.

They Said It: "We want to get to know him and get our arms around who he is. At some point we'll develop a plan for the kid. I don't know how accelerated it would be." — Danny Ferry on Christian Eyenga (The News-Herald)
"We need to re-sign LeBron, and we'll speak to him [Saturday] and get into our plans for him. And we'll continue to sign other free agents or make trades going forward. So this is kind of what you do during this year. So it doesn't necessarily seem stressful or abnormal. It's just that there's a lot going on and a lot of attention, right here in Cleveland." — Chris Grant (NBA.com)

The NBA Executive Says: "They'll look to add a point guard and a big guy with the fourth pick."

They Should Pick: Kyrie Irving





Ohio State drops review of players' car purchases

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ohio State University on Tuesday dropped its review of car purchases by football players and family members after two separate investigations found dealerships made money on almost all of the sales.
The university made its decision in light of a report by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and a separate review by the Ohio Independent Automobile Dealers Association.
"We have seen no evidence that would lead us to believe that Ohio State student athletes violated any policies when purchasing used cars," said university spokesman Jim Lynch.
The reviews were launched after questions about players' car purchases arose in the wake of a scandal in which some players received cash and tattoos for autographs, championship rings and equipment.
In a 65-page report issued Tuesday, the state BMV said two Columbus-area dealerships made money on 24 of 25 sales made to players and family members.
The BMV, however, did not interview Ohio State players or officials and did not examine records of financial transactions that players file with the university's athletic compliance office. The report also did not address whether players received discounts not available to the public. Such a discount could be an NCAA violation.
In its report, the BMV said the certificates of titles for 25 vehicle sales by Jack Maxton Chevrolet and Auto Direct to Ohio State players and their families accurately reflected the vehicles' sales prices.
According to the report, Auto Direct made money on the 10 vehicles it sold to players and their families and Jack Maxton made money on 14 of 15 sales; one vehicle was sold at a loss because it had been on the lot longer than 150 days.
A BMV investigator found vehicles bought at Auto Direct were sold for an average of $2,000 over their wholesale purchase prices, the report said.
Auto Direct owner Jason Goss told an investigator "he is not in the business to sell vehicles at a loss and has never discounted the price of vehicle in lieu of sports memorabilia or anything related to O.S.U. athletics."
The BMV investigation found no evidence that tickets and/or sports memorabilia were included in the sales.
"The deals that I did for Ohio State student-athletes were no different than any of the other 10,000-plus deals that I've done for all my other customers," said Aaron Kniffin, the salesman who sold most of the vehicles at both dealerships, in a May 10 affidavit.
Kniffin said any sales involving Ohio State players were forwarded to the general manager, who contacted Ohio State's compliance office.
The review by the independent auto dealers association of Auto Direct sales found no evidence of improper titling or sales tax calculations and said the paperwork on all sales complied with state and federal laws.
All vehicles were sold at fair market value and profit margins were consistent with the company's average profit per unit and the national average for used car dealers, James Mitchell, OIADA executive director, said in a May 18 letter to Goss released Tuesday by Ohio State.
There "was no preferential treatment," Mitchell wrote.
Ohio State President Gordon Gee said Tuesday the BMV's findings weren't surprising.
"The university has a very strong compliance system," he said. "We have always tried to make certain that we are on solid ground on these issues."
Gee added: "That doesn't mean to say we're not going to be surprised once in a while."
A lawyer for former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor said the BMV report confirms Pryor never received special treatment in his dealings with Auto Direct, which included a repair on one of Pryor's cars and a $11,435 purchase of a 2007 Nissan by Pryor's mother.
"There has been no testimony from any credible source that any OSU Student Athlete received special benefits beyond those that any customer received in having their car repaired or in considering the purchase of a vehicle," attorney Larry James wrote in a memo Tuesday to Doug Archie, Ohio State's athletics compliance director.
Pryor was one of five players suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for taking money and tattoos from local tattoo-parlor owner Edward Rife, who signed an agreement in May to plead guilty to federal drug trafficking and money-laundering charges.
Pryor announced earlier this month he wouldn't return for his senior year. He is now aiming to be selected in the NFL's supplemental draft this summer.
The BMV report also addressed what it called "persistent allegations" that Ohio State athletes and coaches have been allowed to drive dealer-owned cars using dealer license plates.
That practice is not illegal and is allowed under BMV rules, the agency said.
"On the contrary, the statute that governs the use of dealer-plated vehicles by third parties expressly permits dealers to allow any member of the public to operate dealer-owned vehicles," the agency said in its report.
In a May 12 interview with the Ohio Inspector General, Kniffin said Jeff Mauk, owner of Jack Maxton Chevrolet, received tickets from Ohio State coaches for giving them cars to drive. Kniffin said that was a common practice, according to the interview included in the BMV report.
Messages were left for Mauk and Goss seeking comment.



McIlroy says he doesn’t want to join PGA Tour
Ryan Ballengee msnbc.com
This might come as a surprise to some, but 22-year-old U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy has no grand designs of an American invasion now that he is a major champion.

Appearing on the Dan Patrick radio show on Wednesday, McIlroy said his home for the next several seasons will be the European Tour.

“I’m never going to leave the European tour…..I don’t think I will join (the PGA) tour in the next few years anyway,” McIlroy said according to show producer Paul Pabst on Twitter.

McIlroy did not take up PGA Tour membership after winning last year’s Wells Fargo Championship with a closing 62 at Quail Hollow to notch his second professional win and first in the United States. He is limited to no more than 11 PGA Tour-sanctioned starts each year, including The Players Championship. McIlroy opted not to play in the PGA Tour’s crown jewel because the course did not suit his eye, he said.

Agent Andrew Chandler told Golf Channel’s Randall Mell that his man would only consider PGA Tour membership if the rules requiring 15 starts and participation in the FedExCup playoff series in the fall were loosened. With his Open win, though, McIlroy has a five-year window to take up PGA Tour membership at will.

Curiously, McIlroy now has two wins in the United States compared to one on the European Tour. That win came in Dubai, of all places.

Monday, June 20, 2011

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings - Week 16 - Prized prospect bullish on Braxton and Buckeyes -



Isn't it a Little early for this???????




Congrats Rory!!!








Prized prospect bullish on Braxton and Buckeyes

Ejuan Price is out, but Curtis Grant remains all in. Grant heard about what was going on at Ohio State the past several months -- the NCAA investigation, the resignation of coach Jim Tressel, the departure of quarterback Terrelle Pryor -- but the top-ranked member of the 2011 recruiting class never wavered from his intention to become a Buckeye. If anything, the linebacker from Richmond, Va., said, the troubles have served as motivation for not only him but also two of his fellow freshmen, defensive back Doran Grant and quarterback Braxton Miller. ... "I told Braxton he's got to lead that offense, and that I am going to do my best to come in and try to get a starting spot, and try to lead the defense the best way I can. There isn't a lot we can do about the [NCAA] stuff right now."






2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings - Week 16
espn.com
RK(LW) DRIVER TOP 10s COMMENT
1 (4) Carl Edwards 11 No one not named Denny Hamlin did a better job of putting his Pocono nightmare behind him. The bad news? Infineon's not his favorite place, with two top-10s and an average finish of 19th in six starts.
2 (7) Kyle Busch 9 The only car to run up front with the Fords all race. He finished third at Pocono and at Michigan. And he won at Infineon in 2008. Not bad.
3 (5) Matt Kenseth 8 In a fair world, he might be one spot higher. But in a fair world his Infineon stats wouldn't be so bad (one top-10 in 11 tries) that he literally laughs whenever someone mentions them.
4 (3) Kevin Harvick 8 He looked like Harry Gant running that high line, but ended up letting the rough side drag -- literally. Still, he moved up two spots in the point standings, and he finished third at Infineon one year ago.
5 (6) Denny Hamlin 6 Victory Lane interview for "NASCAR Now" ... Me: "Relieved to finally get a win out of the way to bank toward the Chase?" Him: "Dude, you have no idea."
6 (2) Jimmie Johnson 9 Sunday morning's "SportsCenter" team said I could talk about any topic I wanted. I nearly went with "Jimmie's never won at Michigan but this will be his day!" I'm glad I went in another direction.
7 (1) Dale Earnhardt Jr. 8 Leading up to the weekend we told you that Dale Jr. would be a factor at Michigan. He was, but not the way he wanted, bringing out the caution that set up the wild last dash.
8 (8) Kurt Busch 8 Won his third straight pole, but was shuffled back to 11th in that last scrum. Don't expect much this weekend. He has three Infineon top-10s, but the last one came five years ago.
9 (11) Tony Stewart 6 Summer's warming up, and Smoke feels like he is, too. That's two top-10s in three weeks. He's a two-time Infineon winner and riding a streak of four straight top-10s in NoCal.
10 (10) Ryan Newman 7 Crazy stat of the weekend: While researching NASCAR Hall of Famer Bud Moore, who was featured on the side of Newman's car, I realized he never won at Michigan as a car owner. How can that be?

Friday, June 17, 2011

Top 10 Highest Paid Athletes 2011 - McIlroy Leads the US Open 2nd Round by 6 Strokes - Remember Len Bias 25 Years Ago-2011-12 College Football Bowls



Remember me? 25 years ago I was on top of the world then I did coke and the rest is history. A great story and rare photos at si.com. Click HERE to read.




Holy Rory! Can he hold this lead unlike the Masters?

1 Rory McIlroy -5 F -11 65 66 131

2 Y.E. Yang -2 9 -5 68 68

T3 Robert Garrigus -1 F -2 70 70 140

T3 Sergio Garcia E F -2 69 71 140

T3 Zach Johnson -2 F -2 71 69 140

T3 Brandt Snedeker -1 F -2 70 70 140

T3 Heath Slocum -2 10 -2 71 71

T8 Kyung-tae Kim +1 F -1 69 72 141

T8 Alvaro Quiros E F -1 70 71 141

T8 Robert Rock E F -1 70 71 141






Top 10 Highest Paid Athletes 2011
according to si.com
to view the complete list 1-50 click HERE

1 Tiger Woods
Golf
Last Year's Rank: 1
$2,294,116
$60,000,000
$62,294,116
Tiger's empire has crumbled, but Rome wasn't built in a day. His Nike and EA deals still keep him on top of the charts while other endorsers -- and his game -- have gone in other directions. But his reign at No. 1 may soon be over. For more on Tiger go here.

2 Phil Mickelson
Golf
Last Year's Rank: 2
$4,185,933
$57,000,000
$61,185,933
Lefty's hefty sponsorship portfolio isn't flashy -- deals with Callaway, KPMG, Rolex, Barclays Capital, ExxonMobil and Amgen/Pfizer -- but he's one of the most reliable endorsers in pro sports. For more on Phil Mickelson go here.

3 LeBron James
Miami Heat (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 4
$14,500,000
$30,000,000
$44,500,000
There's plenty of room for LeBron's talent in his $9 million Coconut Grove mansion. King James' compound features a wine cellar, library, home theater and dock that can fit two 60-foot yachts. But all the money in the world can't buy an NBA title.

4 Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: 9
$23,070,000
$15,000,000
$38,070,000
Who needs a lucrative new contract, anyway? If the Colts place the franchise tag on the four-time NFL MVP again next year, Manning will earn more than $50 million in salary over two seasons.

5 Alex Rodriguez
New York Yankees (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 5
$32,000,000
$4,000,000
$36,000,000
If A-Rod's bat catches fire, he could cash in this season on the first milestone bonus written into his contract: another $6 million for passing Willie Mays (No. 4 at 660) on the all-time home-run list.

6 Kobe Bryant
Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 7
$24,806,250
$10,000,000
$34,806,250
Kobe relinquished a pair of back-to-back titles this spring: the NBA championship and his crown as the NBA's top jersey seller worldwide. LeBron's No. 6 Heat top now outsells Kobe's No. 24.

7 Kevin Garnett
Boston Celtics (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 15
$18,832,044
$14,000,000
$32,832,044
This could be KG's final appearance on this list, as he's set to earn $21 million next season in the last year of his contract and could retire. He'll have earned more than $300 million over his career.

8 Matt Ryan
Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: NR
$32,250,000
$450,000
$32,700,000
The bulk of guaranteed money in Ryan's six-year, $72 million contract he signed in 2008 should be paid out this year, when he'll earn a $22 million roster bonus on top of his $10.25 million salary.

9 Tom Brady
New England Patriots (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: T-28
$20,007,280
$10,000,000
$30,007,280
Brady's four-year, $72 million extension signed last September gives him the highest average annual salary in the NFL. He's due to collect $10 million of his $16 million signing bonus in August.

10. Dwight Howard
Orlando Magic (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 12
$16,647,180
$12,000,000
$28,647,180
Any dream of Superman joining Lakers needs a cold dose of reality: Howard would have to accept a huge reduction from $17.9 million he's own next year; Kobe might have to take a pay cut, too.





2011-12 College Football Bowl Schedule


Bowl Location Date/Time Network
New Mexico
MWC vs. Pac-12 Albuquerque, N.M.
University Stadium Dec. 17
2 p.m. ESPN

uDrove Humanitarian
MAC vs. WAC Boise, Idaho
Bronco Stadium Dec. 17
5:30 p.m. ESPN

R+L Carriers New Orleans
C-USA vs. Sun Belt New Orleans
Louisiana Superdome Dec. 17
9 p.m. ESPN

Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg
Big East vs. C-USA St. Petersburg, Fla.
Tropicana Field Dec. 20
8 p.m. ESPN

S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia
MWC vs. WAC San Diego
Qualcomm Stadium Dec. 21
8 p.m. ESPN

MAACO Las Vegas
MWC vs. Pac-12 Las Vegas
Sam Boyd Stadium Dec. 22
8 p.m. ESPN

Sheraton Hawaii
C-USA vs. WAC Honolulu
Aloha Stadium Dec. 24
8 p.m. ESPN

AdvoCare V100 Independence
ACC vs. MWC Shreveport, La.
Independence Stadium Dec. 26
5 p.m. ESPN2

Little Caesars
Big Ten vs. MAC Detroit
Ford Field Dec. 27
4:30 p.m. ESPN

Belk
ACC vs. Big East Charlotte, N.C.
Bank of America Stadium Dec. 27
8 p.m. ESPN

Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman
ACC vs. Navy Washington, D.C.
RFK Stadium Dec. 28
4:30 p.m. ESPN

Bridgepoint Education Holiday
Big 12 vs. Pac-12 San Diego
Qualcomm Stadium Dec. 28
8 p.m. ESPN

Champs Sports
ACC vs. Big East Orlando, Fla.
Florida Citrus Bowl Dec. 29
5:30 p.m. ESPN

Valero Alamo
Big 12 vs. Pac-12 San Antonio
Alamodome Dec. 29
9 p.m. ESPN

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces
BYU vs. C-USA Dallas
Gerald J. Ford Stadium Dec. 30
Noon ESPN

New Era Pinstripe
Big 12 vs. Big East Bronx, N.Y.
Yankee Stadium Dec. 30
3:20 p.m. ESPN

Franklin American Mortgage Music City
ACC vs. SEC Nashville, Tenn.
LP Field Dec. 30
6:40 p.m. ESPN

Insight
Big Ten vs. Big 12 Tempe, Ariz.
Sun Devil Stadium Dec. 30
10 p.m. ESPN

Meineke Car Care of Texas
Big Ten vs. Big 12 Houston
Reliant Stadium Dec. 31
Noon ESPN

Hyundai Sun
ACC vs. Pac-12 El Paso, Texas
Sun Bowl Dec. 31
2 p.m. CBS
AutoZone Liberty
C-USA vs. SEC Memphis, Tenn.
Liberty Bowl Dec. 31
3:30 p.m. ABC

Kraft Fight Hunger
Army vs. Pac-12 San Francisco
AT&T Park Dec. 31
3:30 p.m. ESPN

Chick-fil-A
ACC vs. SEC Atlanta
Georgia Dome Dec. 31
7:30 p.m. ESPN

TicketCity
Big Ten vs. C-USA Dallas
Cotton Bowl Jan. 2
Noon ESPNU

Outback
Big Ten vs. SEC Tampa, Fla.
Raymond James Stadium Jan. 2
1 p.m. ABC
Capital One
Big Ten vs. SEC Orlando, Fla.
Florida Citrus Bowl Jan. 2
1 p.m. ESPN

Gator Bowl
Big Ten vs. SEC Jacksonville, Fla.
EverBank Field Jan. 2
1 p.m. ESPN2

Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio
BCS vs. BCS Pasadena, Calif.
Rose Bowl Jan. 2
5 p.m. ESPN

Allstate Sugar
BCS vs. BCS New Orleans
Louisiana Superdome Jan. 3
8:30 p.m. ESPN

Discover Orange
BCS vs. BCS Miami
Sun Life Stadium Jan. 4
8:30 p.m. ESPN

Tostitos Fiesta
BCS vs. BCS Glendale, Ariz.
U. of Phoenix Stadium Jan. 5
8:30 p.m. ESPN

AT&T Cotton
Big 12 vs. SEC Arlington, Texas
Cowboys Stadium Jan. 6
8 p.m. FOX
BBVA Compass Bowl
Big East vs. SEC Birmingham, Ala.
Legion Field Jan. 7
1 p.m. ESPN

Allstate BCS National Championship Game
BCS vs. BCS New Orleans
Louisiana Superdome Jan. 9
8:30 p.m. ESPN

GoDaddy.com
MAC vs. Sun Belt Mobile, Ala.
Ladd-Peebles Stadium TBD
TBD TBD

Thursday, June 16, 2011

NBA Mock Draft -Brandon Miller resigns from Ohio St. - First Round of US Open Golf Scores -

Brandon Miller resigns from Ohio St.


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Brandon Miller, a top assistant to Thad Matta at Ohio State, has resigned to spend more time with his family.

Ohio State spokesman Dan Wallenberg confirmed Thursday night that Miller, a former player at Butler, had met with players earlier in the day and told them he was leaving.

Miller was an assistant for the Buckeyes from 2005-07 and 2008-11 and at his alma mater for one year between those two stints. His departure could open a spot for former Duke player Greg Paulus, hired by Ohio State last month as video coordinator.

Matta's two remaining assistants are Dave Dickerson and Jeff Boals.


First Round of US Open Golf Scores

1 Rory McIlroy
7:55 a -6 65 65
T2 Charl Schwartzel
8:06 a -3 68 68
T2 Y.E. Yang
1:35 p -3 68 68
T4 Alexandre Rocha
7:00 a -2 69 69
T4 Scott Hend
7:22 a -2 69 69
T4 Kyung-tae Kim
7:22 a -2 69 69
T4 Sergio Garcia
7:44 a -2 69 69
T4 Louis Oosthuizen
1:35 p -2 69 69
T4 Ryan Palmer
2:19 p -2 69 69
T10 Bubba Dickerson
7:00 a -1 70 70



Cbssportsline.com

NBA Mock Draft - 06/15/2011
Round 1
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Los Angeles Clippers)
Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke: You start to wonder if Irving wouldn't be so much of a lock if the Cavs didn't have the No.4 pick as well. The ability to start over with a point guard and someone for him to work the pick and roll with is more tempting than just Irving vs. Williams. Expect the Cavs to keep pushing to get the No. 2 pick though, since Irving-Williams is the best of both worlds and would work well together.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
Derrick Williams, PF, Arizona: Williams continues to show that he's not just going to be an explosive young player with polish, but he's going to bring the attitude with it. Minnesota will make a trade before their pick goes up. We're just not sure if it's to move the No.2, Michael Beasley, or some other inventive combination. If they keep the pick and pass on Williams, they'll get flogged by fans and media. Again.
3. Utah Jazz (from New Jersey)
Enes Kanter, PF, Kentucky: This is a move based on the ability of the Jazz to pick up a wing with their later pick. Getting Kanter gives them a legit center with actual height advantage to pair with whichever of Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson they want to commit to. Kanter's workouts haven't been phenomenal, and there's starting to be some concern that he's more a product of good representation than actual ability, but if any big is going this high, it's Kanter.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
Jan Vesely, SF, KK Partizan Belgrade,: Brandon Knight doesn't make sense here as a player that needs the ball. Valanciunas is an obvious pick, but he doesn't have the explosiveness Vesely has. Throw in the fact that Anderson Varejao still has a long-term contract with the Cavs and a bigger needs is frontcourt player with aggression who can score. Vesely, alongside Irving, could be that player for the Cavs.
5. Toronto Raptors
Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky: In this scenario Bryan Colangelo busts the eardrum of his representative in Newark trying to make this pick as fast as possible. Knight takes over for an aging Jose Calderon, brings known value as a college player to appease ownership, and can work in a fast-paced system.
6. Washington Wizards
Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego State: An all-around prospect with polish, Leonard could wind up being the James Harden to the Wizards' Thunder model in a strong, complete player without exceptional ability who does a lot every time he touches the floor and plays great defense.
7. Sacramento Kings
Kemba Walker, PG, Connecticut: This, sadly, makes a great deal of sense. Walker's going to struggle guarding bigger guards... which Tyreke Evans can do. Walker can add even more scoring punch next to Marcus Thornton and Evans, giving the Kings options for years in their backcourt rotation. If Walker can't explode past NBA defenders like he did vs. college jobbers, he can simply manage the offense and knock down spot-up 3-pointers. As weak as I am on Walker, and as much as there will be a scramble over usage, Walker does make a certain amount of sense in this spot.
8. Detroit Pistons
Alec Burks, SG, Colorado: Burks gives the Pistons a great young scorer to put with Austin Daye, Jonas Jerebko and Greg Monroe. Once they trade the zillion unhappy veterans on roster. Selecting Burks means there's no loss at position when Rip Hamilton is finally freed from his glass case of being overpaid to do very little.
9. Charlotte Bobcats
Jonas Valanciunas, PF, Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius,: A true rebounding big to put next to Tyrus Thomas. A frontcourt player who can actually work alongside Augustin in the pick and roll. Someone who likely won't have character issues. This isn't hard if Valanciunas falls this far.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
Jimmer Fredette, SG, Brigham Young: Fredette's gutsy approach to workouts catches Scott Skiles' eye, and the Bucks go bonkers trying to run out a Brandon Jennings-Jimmer Fredette backcourt. Also consider this Jennings insurance, just in case the youngster continues to spiral slightly out of control.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

2011 NBA Mock Draft 3.0 -Luke Fickell talks to media for 1st time - Pryor hires Rosenhaus to be agent




2011 NBA Mock Draft 3.0
According to Sam Amick of si.com
I like how he has the Cavs picking right now!!
With just nine days left before the draft, the chatter about who's going where and how it might all unfold is growing louder by the minute. Mock 2.0 was heavy on impressions gleaned from the mid-May Chicago predraft camp, but Mock 3.0 is all about the individual team workouts and the part they are now playing. League executives are still returning from Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy, as well, with that event even more significant than before because of the increased international influence in this draft. Most of the actual decision makers still don't know which way they'll go, but there is plenty to be learned from the endless discussions and debates that are being had. PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER

CLASS HEIGHT WEIGHT
1 PG Kyrie Irving
Duke
Fr. 6-4 191

There was some thought given to unseating the incumbent, because sources say the Cavaliers have not made their ultimate decision and the likes of Arizona's Derrick Williams and Turkish center Enes Kanter are still in the running. But Irving is just the kind of point guard Cleveland needs to spark its post-LeBron start. The fact that the agent for Ramon Sessions told the Akron Beacon Journal last week that "something has to give" if Irving is selected and Cleveland has three point guards (including veteran Baron Davis) shouldn't get in the way of what seems to be the most likely pick. VIDEO


PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER CLASS HEIGHT WEIGHT
2 SF Derrick Williams
Arizona
So. 6-8 248

Unless the Wolves can find an attractive package for their pick, it still looks like they will be adding Williams despite the obvious duplication of the Arizona star and forward Michael Beasley. That being said, sources say they have a real interest in Kanter and are intrigued with the possibility of putting him next to power forward Kevin Love on the front line. As has been written or said at least a few hundred times in recent weeks, the Wolves are considering trading this pick and their No. 20 as well. If they stay here and take Williams, trading Beasley becomes the eventual play as they are very high on second-year swingman Wesley Johnson. VIDEO

PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER CLASS HEIGHT WEIGHT
3 PG Brandon Knight
Kentucky
Fr. 6-3 177

Even with the shenanigans surrounding his Jazz workout, the Kentucky point guard will be tough to pass up for a team that sources say wants a serious upgrade over Devin Harris at the position. As noted by Connecticut's Kemba Walker at a workout in Sacramento on Monday, Knight -- whose agent, Arn Tellem, has demanded one-on-none sessions only -- is not expected to take part in the Wednesday workout with the Jazz that includes Walker, BYU star Jimmer Fredette and UCLA guard Malcolm Lee. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Knight's workout won't come any earlier than Thursday. If he's sluggish or unimpressive, though, sources say it's conceivable that Utah could opt for Kanter or perhaps Czech Republic forward Jan Vesely. As we'll describe later, that could determine Fredette's fate in Utah as well. VIDEO

PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER CLASS HEIGHT WEIGHT
4 C Enes Kanter
Kentucky
Fr. 6-11 259

The dominoes will be officially falling by this point, and we'll see if I have them heading in the right direction. I've been told the Cavs will likely take Kanter if Knight indeed goes to Utah (as opposed to Kanter), but sources say Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas is also in the mix. Making matters even more complicated, one source says Vesely is getting a significant amount of support.
VIDEO

PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER CLASS HEIGHT WEIGHT
5 PG Kemba Walker
Connecticut
Jr. 6-1 184

With president and general manager Bryan Colangelo having received a contract extension recently, the word is that he might want to distance himself from the Euro-heavy reputation and go for an All-America like Walker. Point guard Jose Calderon has two pricey years left (combined $20.3 million), but Walker could fit in right away as a potent bench addition to play alongside DeMar DeRozan. Valanciunas, who held this spot in Mock 2.0, is still in play here along with Vesely. If Knight falls, Colangelo will take a hard look at him, too. VIDEO

PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER CLASS HEIGHT WEIGHT
6 PF Jonas Valanciunas
Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania)
--- 6-11 240

Here's the disclaimer that doesn't get mentioned nearly enough: The executives themselves won't solidify their short-list opinions until the final week, if not days, before the draft. As a result, it's a toss-up whether the Wizards would opt for Vesely or Valanciunas. I'm opting for Valanciunas simply because I was told weeks ago that he was above Vesely on the Wizards' board. Sources say Washington is also very high on San Diego State small forward Kawhi Leonard.

PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER CLASS HEIGHT WEIGHT
7 SF Kawhi Leonard
San Diego State
So. 6-7 227

If all goes according to my 3.0 plan, the Kings will have a chance to draft the player in whom they've shown a lot of interest. According to sources, they don't perceive Donte' Greene or Omri Casspi as the long-term solution at small forward and see Leonard as the sort of versatile talent that could eventually be just that. But here's the tricky part: They've gone to great lengths to scout Vesely, just as they have Leonard, and would have a touch choice in this scenario. Walker is another possibility, as is Fredette or Colorado guard Alec Burks. But the Kings plan to re-sign pending restricted free-agent guard Marcus Thornton and the backcourt minutes are already at a premium with Beno Udrih (two years remaining on his contract) in the mix. The Fredette possibility is tough to buy because it seems so high for him, but the Kings have marketing needs that he could fill and their basketball people think highly of his game. VIDEO
PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER CLASS HEIGHT WEIGHT

8 PF Bismack Biyombo
Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (Spain)
--- 6-9 240

Pistons officials are said to be fond of the Congolese big man, whom they see as the next Ben Wallace, and that should be enough to inspire them to pass up on the enticing chance to choose Vesely. The love affair with Biyombo runs deep, though Detroit is also believed to be considering Lithuanian forward-center Donatas Motiejunas and Texas power forward Tristan Thompson. Biyombo worked out for teams at the Eurocamp that concluded on Monday and was reportedly unimpressive. Nonetheless, the offense-heavy session was irrelevant for anyone who was already intrigued by the raw skill, length and athleticism that have been turning heads for some time.

PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER CLASS HEIGHT WEIGHT
9 PF Marcus Morris
Kansas
Jr. 6-9 230

The Bobcats will have a new voice in this process after hiring former Portland general manager Rich Cho for the same position Monday. He will join Rod Higgins, who was promoted from GM to president and owner Michael Jordan in Charlotte's glass offices. The new-look brass is said to be looking hard at the more offensive-minded of the Morris twins after his strong workout there last week. Thompson is a possibility here, too, along with Texas small forward Jordan Hamilton after he "shot the lights out" in his Charlotte workout, according to a source.

PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER CLASS HEIGHT WEIGHT
10 PF Jan Vesely
KK Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)
--- 6-11 240

The slide stops here. The Bucks are looking for some offensive punch and they can find it with Vesely. Burks held this spot in Mock 2.0 and would be a quality pick that many around the league still foresee. Biyombo and Thompson are also believed to be options.








Luke Fickell talks to media for 1st time
espn.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In his first solo moment in the spotlight as Ohio State's interim coach,Fickell made a point to graciously mention his deposed predecessor.
He thanked Jim Tressel, forced to resign on May 30 as the heat escalated from an ongoing NCAA investigation, "for the opportunities he's given me, for the friendship and for making me a better coach, husband and father."
Still, Fickell only referred to his ex-boss twice in almost 35 minutes before reporters on Monday. And he did make one major break when he said he didn't know anything about any NCAA rules violations under Tressel's watch.
"I wasn't going to say that I had blinders on, but (I was) very focused on the task at hand," Fickell said. "I was not informed of any information until it became public knowledge."
Fickell spoke at an introductory news conference, during which he promised Buckeyes fans a team that would be about "respect, toughness and being men of action."
The 37-year-old Fickell is a former Ohio State player who has been on the staff for the last 10 years, coaching linebackers and, most recently, serving as co-defensive coordinator.
He said the ongoing problems at his alma mater have affected him.
"I'm not saying I'm not disappointed, I'm not upset," he said. "But again, we're moving forward."
Fickell was selected to fill in when Tressel was suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for knowing players were accepting cash and discounted tattoos in exchange for memorabilia from a tattoo-parlor owner and failing to notify his superiors.
After weeks of revelations and rumors, Tressel resigned under pressure two weeks ago amid an ongoing NCAA investigation of his ultrasuccessful program. In the hours that followed, Tressel spoke briefly with Fickell and gave him some simple advice: Be yourself.
Athletic director Gene Smith spoke briefly before introducing Fickell.
"I want to share with you why for me it was pretty easy to sit down with him and ask him to take on this leadership role," Smith said. "You know his great success in teaching and recruiting and that's represented in the number of student-athletes who came here and became Big Ten players and All Americans and ultimately went onto the NFL at the professional level. It's recognized in the great years of service (and) the respect that the high school coaches in the state and the coaches on our staff have for him. We're very, very pleased he's going to step into this role."
Luke Fickell addressed the media for the first time Tuesday and that he didn't know of any violations at Ohio State until they became public knowledge.
Smith also announced that Fickell's two-year contract would be modified to pay him $775,000 a year in addition to some bonuses. Tressel was paid an estimated $3.5 million per season. He was 106-22 in his 10 seasons, leading the Buckeyes to the national championship in 2002.
Fickell said he was contacted by Terrelle Pryor, one of the five players who was suspended for five games in the memorabilia-for-cash scheme, while the star quarterback was making up his mind whether to return to Ohio State. The new coach said he never called Pryor back.
"The situation just didn't work out that we had the chance to sit down and talk," Fickell said.
Pryor announced last week he would forgo his senior season and refuse to answer any more questions from NCAA investigators. The NCAA infractions committee will meet with Ohio State officials on Aug. 12.
As a guy with one year to prove he deserves to be the Buckeyes head coach, it's difficult to believe that he wouldn't try to keep a three-year starter with a 31-4 career record as the first-team QB. But not making the effort to bring Pryor back will undoubtedly play well to Ohio State fans who have grown tired of the series of soap operas Pryor has starred in through his three years in Columbus.
"We're going to continue to educate, educate, educate our guys," Fickell said of his plans for heading off further problems in the once-proud program. "We understand that we are going to deal with compliance. We are going to go through this situation thoroughly and methodically so we can figure out what is best and the best ways we can handle this stuff for the future because, again, we have to plan for the future."
Pryor signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus earlier Monday and took the first steps toward making himself available for an NFL supplemental draft this summer. Also, the lawyer who first sent emails to Tressel to tell him of the violations is being investigated by the Ohio Supreme Court for misconduct for revealing to the coach what he learned from a potential client.
Possible penalties that could be imposed by the NCAA's committee on infractions include vacating seasons, a bowl ban and restrictions on recruiting.
Born and raised not far from Ohio Stadium, Fickell comes in with an appreciation for one tradition which remains near and dear to Ohio State fans: The annual season-ending rivalry game with Michigan.
"Our guys will know about Nov. 26," he said of the game in Ann Arbor, Mich. "I promise you that."




Pryor hires Rosenhaus to be agent
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has hired Drew Rosenhaus as his agent and has taken steps toward making himself available for an NFL supplemental draft.
Pryor's lawyer,James, said Monday that Pryor was in Miami and had signed an agreement with Rosenhaus, a high-powered agent who represents some of the biggest names in sports.
James also said he had formally notified Ohio State that Pryor had an agent, making him ineligible and clearing the way for him to participate in an upcoming supplemental draft.
Pryor quit the team last week in the midst of an NCAA investigation into improper benefits that had also led to the forced resignation of head coach Jim Tressel on May 30.
Rosenhaus did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Clarett: Blame players, college system for Ohio State scandal - Terrelle Pryor 'needs a ton of work' to be ready to play QB in the NFL -

Clarett: Blame players, college system for Ohio State scandal




COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett blames athletes rather than coaches and fans for the culture that created problems in the Buckeyes' football program.

"There's no secret regime, there's no secret congregation of people who sit around at Ohio State who gives young guys money," Clarett said Wednesday on the Dan Patrick Show. "Anything that any player goes and gets is all based on him and who he meets in the community. The coaches and the university have no control over what the young guy's doing."

The NCAA is investigating Ohio State players who allegedly received improper benefits and special deals on cars. Five players have been suspended for the first five games this fall for trading signed jerseys, championship rings and other items for cash and discounted tattoos from a Columbus tattoo-parlor owner.

Clarett, ruled ineligible after carrying Ohio State to its first national championship in 34 years in 2002, said the university cannot control everything that players do.

"There wasn't any coach or any booster or any member in or around Ohio State who helps you get a car," Clarett said, recalling his own time on campus. "It doesn't go on. It's just guys doing what they want to. People will forever do what they want to. It's nothing more than young guys making mistakes."

Clarett questioned the foundation of big-time college football, where universities and coaches make millions off athletes yet the players get in trouble with the NCAA for accepting cash for autographs or memorabilia.

"Why are they even in that position? Why is it that a university can profit $20 million, $30 million, $40 million and these guys are in the position that they have to sell their memorabilia -- the only thing they have of value at that point?" Clarett said. "Why are they even in that position to do that, when there's enough money to go around?"

Once an elite running back recruit, Clarett seized the starting tailback job before the 2002 season opener and caught the nation's attention when he piled up 230 yards rushing in a victory over Washington State -- still the sixth-highest single-game total in school history.

Despite nagging injuries, Clarett continued to play well as Ohio State went through the season unbeaten and was selected as the Big Ten's top freshman.

In the Fiesta Bowl, which served as the Bowl Championship Series national championship, Clarett bulled over the middle in the second overtime for the winning touchdown in No. 2 Ohio State's dramatic 31-24 upset of top-ranked Miami.

Clarett, who rushed for 1,237 yards in his only season, was suspended the following summer for taking improper benefits, including cars. He never played in another college game.

He did not blame his ineligibility on boosters.

"People didn't reach out to me. I reached out to people," he said. "Just when you're traveling around the community, I reached out to people: 'Hey, I'm struggling with this. Hey, I need help with this.'"

Clarett sued the NFL to enter the draft before he had been out of high school for three years, but lost on appeal. From there, his life spiraled out of control.

He pleaded guilty in September 2006 to having a gun hidden in his SUV and holding up two people outside a Columbus bar in a separate case. He was sentenced to 7½ years in prison, and was released in early 2010 after serving 3½ years.

Clarett played last year for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League.

He accused Ohio State of academic fraud during the investigation spurred by his improper-benefits case in 2003. But on Wednesday, he said he had lied and manipulated the professor to get good grades.

Going to prison had altered his view of the world, Clarett said. Five years ago, he said he might have celebrated that Ohio State and Tressel were going through the NCAA problems they are now. But that isn't the way he feels.

Clarett also said he did not consider Tressel, who until a few months ago had a squeaky clean image around the country, to be a cheater or a fraud.

"You can't be a fraud for 30 years. It's impossible," he said. "People can smell a fraud in the first month, two, three, four, five months. They're going to be exposed. To do what that man has done ... it's wrong for that man to get dealt like that."

Asked where his national championship ring is, Clarett said, "That's at my mother's house. There's not one piece of memorabilia that I don't have."










Terrelle Pryor 'needs a ton of work' to be ready to play QB in the NFL


When Terrelle Pryor in the spring of 2008 finally announced his decision to play quarterback at Ohio State, he did so to great fanfare as the nation's top-rated and most highly sought after high school football recruit.
Suffice it to say his NFL quarterbacking career, if he even has one to look forward to, won't be starting with the same level of breathless acclaim.
Though other lower-profile options like the UFL remain on the table, Pryor is thought likely to apply for consideration in the NFL's supplemental draft. If conducted amid this year's labor uncertainty, the supplemental draft would be held in July for any and all players who have developed college eligibility issues since the close of the league's regular draft in late April.
Pryor says no to CFL's Roughriders
I talked with a couple of veteran NFL talent evaluators this week, and it became quickly apparent that Pryor's decision to skip his senior season at Ohio State isn't being met with a buzz of anticipation in a league featuring several teams that still seek starting quarterback options. Pryor wasn't going to be playing for the Buckeyes in their first five games of the 2011 season due to a suspension for NCAA violations. But his wait to earn a spot under center for some NFL team could be far longer.
"He needs a ton of work,'' said one long-time club personnel executive who has watched Pryor's play. "It's a long-term deal with him at quarterback. He's a great athlete, very mobile, with big size. He's just not a great passer. He totally needs to refine what he's doing. He's a project, and in the end I'm not convinced he's a quarterback in the NFL. I think he'll end up at another position.''
In most years since 1977, the NFL has held a supplemental draft to accommodate players who have had college eligibility issues arise after the regular draft concluded and before the season started. When no players apply for consideration, no supplemental draft is needed, as was the case as recently as 2008. Though nothing has been scheduled as of yet, it is expected the NFL intends to conduct a supplemental draft this summer with or without a new labor agreement in place.
The supplemental draft has not traditionally been a gold mine of quarterbacking talent, with no passer selected in it since the Giants used a first-round pick to acquire Dave Brown out of Duke in 1992, just three years after Dallas and Arizona took QBs Steve Walsh (Miami) and Timm Rosenbach (Washington State), respectively, with first-round choices. Bernie Kosar going in the first round to Cleveland in 1985 remains the only QB selection of distinction in the 30-plus-year history of the supplemental draft.
Though he went 31-4 as a starter in his three seasons at Ohio State, and has intriguing size (6-foot-6, 233 pounds) and athleticism, Pryor is not going to remind anyone of Kosar as a passer. His throwing mechanics, accuracy and decision-making all leave a lot to be desired by league talent scouts, and his experience in the Buckeyes' running-oriented offense, with its simplistic passing schemes, did not serve Pryor's NFL interests well.
"I think he'd be happy to go in the third or fourth round (of the supplemental draft), but he'll probably be disappointed in the end,'' said the club personnel executive, adding that his team would have no interest in selecting Pryor. "He is what he is. He's really a running quarterback trying to learn how to pass. You hope he goes to a team with good coaching, a team that really wants him and will be patient with him. They'll probably put him on the practice squad for a year or so.
"If you get him in the fifth or sixth round, you'd be getting a really good athlete. Hopefully in those rounds all you're looking for are qualities that may predict the guy can contribute. With his athletic ability and size, he may have a chance to play a different position. I think he's a good buy in the fifth or sixth round, but I wouldn't take him any higher than that because now you're talking about players who should contribute as rookies, and to me he's a long ways away from that point.''
Which teams might be likely to shop in Pryor's market in the supplemental draft? You can pretty much round up the usual suspects. Take all the teams that entered this year's draft needing a quarterback, but didn't get one, and put them on the list. Washington, Miami, Buffalo, Seattle and Arizona all make sense on some level, and maybe even Cleveland, which saw Pryor's work at OSU up close the past three years. And you can't rule out a club that has no immediate need at the position taking a late-round flyer on Pryor, knowing he needs time to develop his passing skills. A Philadelphia, Dallas, New Orleans, Pittsburgh or even Indianapolis come to mind. If the price tag is just a sixth or seventh-round pick in the supplemental, what's the risk of that low-level investment?
The supplemental draft is in effect a bidding war, because interested teams, after their chances are weighted according to last season's finish, bid for a player's rights. The team willing to spend a pick in the earliest round is awarded the player, and then has to forfeit its choice in the corresponding round of next year's regular league draft.

Off the field, Pryor was a major headache for the Buckeyes, which will give NFL teams pause when they evaluate his prospects.
AP
Longtime NFL Films employee Greg Cosell serves as creator and executive producer of ESPN's NFL Matchup, the show that league insiders religiously watch and respect. Cosell hastens to point out that he has thus far analyzed just two games of Pryor's junior season -- a win over Miami and a loss to Wisconsin -- but hasn't liked much of what he has seen.
"I think he has very few attributes that transition and project to the NFL, at least at this moment,'' Cosell said Wednesday from his office at NFL Films. "Mechanically he's way below the curve. He pushes the ball. He's got a very stiff delivery, and he doesn't drive the ball at all. He's got a very bad tendency to lift his back foot off the ground before he throws the ball, and that prevents him from throwing the ball with any arm strength. You can't drive the ball doing that, because you don't have a good base.
"And I don't think his accuracy in the two games I've watched was very good. I thought he was scattershot. I don't think he's a naturally accurate passer. Just watching him the little bit I have, he's just an athlete who played quarterback because he was the best guy on his team from the time he was 3 years old. But he's got a lot to learn about throwing the football.''
Pryor ran for a QB-record 2,164 yards and threw for 6,177 yards in his three seasons at Ohio State. His completion percentage was 65 percent in 2010, with 27 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions, but Cosell said he saw little sophistication in OSU's passing offense. And that speaks in part to the development of Pryor's decision-making skills at this point in his career.
"I've always been a believer in the fact that by watching a team, whether it's college or pro, it tells you a lot about what they think of the quarterback,'' Cosell said. "The pass scheme concepts of the two games I've watched were very basic, with very simple route combinations, and half-field stuff. It was a lot of one read, a lot of under center play action, which simplifies the reading process. So this isn't saying he's poor at it. But this is what they did. The nature of their pass offense simplified things for him dramatically.''
Pryor's size, speed and running talents have drawn natural comparisons to Cam Newton's skill set. But the differences between the former Ohio State quarterback and the Heisman winner from Auburn are profound, Cosell said. One possesses an NFL-ready passing arm, the other does not.
"Cam Newton throws the ball far far better than Terrelle Pryor,'' said Cosell of the NFL's first overall pick in April's regular draft. "They're not even close in that area. Cam Newton has a big-time arm and throws a very, very good ball. Terrelle Pryor does not.
"They're both big guys, with similar height and weight, and yeah, they're both runners. But that to me is irrelevant. Forty-yard dash times for a quarterback to me are totally irrelevant. I know Michael Vick has had some great runs in this league, but no one is a top quarterback because of the way they run. The job of a quarterback in the NFL is to pass the ball, and there are 20 things that go with that, but that's the job.''
There has been speculation already that Pryor's smart bet would be to sign with a team in the UFL, where he could learn the craft of playing quarterback at the professional level, perhaps under the tutelage of an ex-NFL head coach and quarterback-minded teacher like Jim Fassel or Dennis Green. But the league sources I talked to don't expect Pryor to be able to resist the lure of the NFL, after being the center of attention at Ohio State the past three years. Same goes for the CFL, where the Saskatchewan Roughriders this week acquired Pryor's negotiating rights and quickly made an offer that the former Buckeye refused.
"Maybe he goes to the UFL or CFL, but he's going to want to be paid [NFL] money,'' the club personnel executive said. "I don't see him going that route. He'll play in the NFL. I think he'll probably try to play quarterback for a year, and then he'll make the conversion [to another position] like [Jets receiver/return man and ex-collegiate quarterback] Brad Smith did. But I'd be shocked if anyone took him higher than the fifth round. You couldn't unless you're convinced he gives you something this year, either as a receiver, a Wildcat quarterback or a kick returner.''
Pryor made big news splashes when he both entered and exited Ohio State. But his story is beginning far differently this time. His quarterback skills aren't likely to be sought after in the NFL until he shows more promise and progress than he has to date.
"The kid played quarterback and he's going to want to play quarterback in the NFL,'' said Cosell, noting that some scouts see Pryor as either a receiver or tight end in the NFL. "I know there have been changes made over the years, with guys like Matt Jones, and Kordell Stewart ending up being Slash. It has happened. But if this kid wants to play quarterback, he needs reps, and he needs to be taught. And what will happen is if he comes into the NFL this year, he won't even be a No. 2 off the bat in my view. He'd be a No. 3, which means he's not going to get reps.
"If he can go work with Fassel or Green [in the UFL], or someone like that, it would help him develop. He needs reps and he needs to be taught how to play, and he needs to be taught by someone who understands that he needs to learn how to play in the pocket, not just running around. Because sooner or later, you've got to be able to throw it from the pocket. Even Michael Vick. What do we say every single year? He's got to improve throwing from the pocket. Why do you think he played better last year? Because he threw it from the pocket better. At the end of the day, that's what you've got to do in the NFL.''

Thursday, June 9, 2011

All of the different articles on T. Pryor leaving OSU - Terrelle Pryor exiting OSU amid scandal -Terrelle Pryor signings netted thousands -

Pryor's exit, Buckeyes' downfall 'surreal' to Spielman

Sports line.com
Dodd

Chris Spielman had a couple of minutes to talk while watching his daughter play softball Tuesday night. He didn't need much time to process the latest blow against Ohio State's program, reputation and future.

Terrelle Pryor did what reputable football players -- Leaders and Legends they tend to call them in the Big Ten -- never do. Ever. Terrelle Pryor quit. He quit on his teammates and the fans. The morally bankrupt kid quit on himself. He didn't even have the stones to show his face in public and say it himself. He did it through his lawyer with a statement, apparently leaving Columbus with more cars than guts.

Pryor came to Columbus to play in a pro-style offense. He left it as a pro, if the compensation from selling memorabilia to a scumbag tattoo parlor owner is only the beginning of what the NCAA will eventually uncover. You don't punt your career in June because the supplemental draft is suddenly so attractive. You leave because the alternative would have meant NCAA crucifixion or worse: disgrace. It's possible that after winning three Big Ten titles, Pryor's off-field conduct got to be too much for interim coach Luke Fickell.
Note to prospective NFL employers: Skip the player interview, go right to the game film. You can be sure it doesn't lie.

First, Tressel. Then, Pryor. Ohio State cannot jettison baggage fast enough. It's so bad that .828 (Jim Tressel's winning percentage) and 31-4 (Pryor's record as a starter) were not worth keeping. If you believe they left of their own free will at this point, you're on something. It's clear now that what we don't know means Ohio State should be preparing for some long, cold, nuclear winters.

"You don't know how long it's going to take to dig out," said Spielman, whose greatness as a Buckeye is surpassed only by his greatness as a man. "I wouldn't be surprised if they get USC-like sanctions."

Quitting is against everything Spielman believes in. This is a former Lombardi Award-winning, All-Pro linebacker who once left the NFL to tend to his ailing wife. He had the insight earlier this year to predict that Tressel, a man he respected, wouldn't make it to the regular season. You don't quit around Chris Spielman. It has to pain him to watch a great football franchise, his alma mater, crumble brick by brick.

"It's all surreal to me; it's crazy," he said. "It takes some twisted plot. It's a tragedy, is what it is."

A tragedy that doesn't seem to register as much as it should in Columbus. There was a general feeling before Tuesday that the entire program was ready to move on without its quarterback. If there was a team bus, Pryor had been thrown under it. Freshman Braxton Miller shows the same promise Bucknuts couldn't wait to see from Pryor three years ago. Now with the NCAA walls closing in, one of the most successful quarterbacks in Ohio State history has cemented his legacy. It will include that 31-4 record, those three Big Ten titles and character flaws the size of Ohio Stadium.

 
Terrelle Pryor's actions not only lead to his early exit, but took down Jim Tressel too. (US Presswire)   "It's a wakeup call for all coaches that no longer do you choose to see what you want to see and know what you want to know," Spielman said. "Players need to take more control of their situation. If you can have an alpha dog making these choices, you better have another alpha dog [on the team] saying no."
"It's so strange," he added, "he [Tressel] hooked his wagon to this guy."

The defrocked coach can't be blamed totally for this one, huge mistake among many. It's clear the program doesn't have enough character guys. That doesn't make it unique in college football. Everybody wanted Pryor. There were a load of schools willing to overlook the warning signs, among them having to deal with Pryor's "mentor," Ted Sarniak, a 67-year-old businessman from the quarterback's hometown.

"I think we live in an age of narcissistic kids, with Facebook who think they're owed something," Spielman said. "Start living with five guys [in an apartment], start paying bills. It's really sad. They haven't done anything [to be so entitled]."

Not enough to take a loaner car to Pennsylvania just so mom could check it out. You or I would have to go through a criminal background check just to take a test drive off the lot. All Pryor had to do was play, get better, let the NFL absorb him at some point and he would have had the undying love of Buckeyes. In the end, he wasn't abused by the system. He turned it upside down and shook it by the ankles until all the change fell out of its pockets. ESPN.com reported an unidentified former friend said Pryor made between $20,000-$40,000 signing memorabilia in 2009-10.

Please don't make him a victim. Make him the face of Ohio State at this point in its history. It's a history that includes Tressel's three best players. Maurice Clarett, Troy Smith and Pryor all had NCAA issues. In the end, Pryor had a hand in taking down two coaches. It's still tempting to think what the quarterback would have done at Michigan under Rich Rod. That's assuming Pryor would have stayed clean, which is probably assuming too much.

"It seemed to me," Spielman said, "that Coach Tressel had a different set of rules for Pryor."

There is mounting evidence. Along with other teammates, the quarterback was allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl when he "promised" Tressel that he would come back for his senior season. The whole episode is so long ago and so irrelevant it made Spielman pause to consider its absurdity. The coach who hid the fact his players were competing while ineligible, made a deal with them that shouldn't have been possible in the first place.

There has to be more to come from the NCAA, right? All of it negative. We're still two months away from the infractions committee hearing. A return to innocence now seems years away for Ohio State, if ever. For Spielman, it was right in front of him on Tuesday.

"I've got to go," he said through the phone, "my daughter is coming up."







By leaving, Pryor could help to save Ohio State from sins of Tressel era
SI.com
Andy Staples
Terrelle Pryor announced he won't return to Ohio State for his senior year
Pryor no longer has to cooperate with NCAA officials in any investigation
He may come off as a villain, but Pryor took full advantage of his market value

Be nice, Buckeyes.
Don't be like Dustin, whose Twitter bio proclaims that he's "Buckeye born and bred, a Buckeye 'til I'm dead." At 8:34 p.m. Tuesday, Dustin lobbed this grenade at now-former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor's Twitter account.
Real men dont quit on there team @TPeezy2 #quitter
Don't be like Dina, whose Twitter bio identifies her as an Ohio State student. At 8:17 p.m. Tuesday, Dina tweeted this:
@TPeezy2 why didn't you leave before you ****** over your team, coach, and school? Because of you tressel is gone. We all hate you. Peace.
By all means, please don't be as fake as Richard, whose Twitter bio describes him as a "regular, down to earth guy" who loves "God, My Country and Sports!" Twenty-five minutes after he sent Ohio State freshman quarterback Braxton Miller a tweet of encouragement, Richard sent this to Pryor:
@TPeezy2 you should have raised your standards with your decision making! #FakeBuckeye
The smarter Buckeyes are saying only the nicest -- or at least the most neutral -- things about Pryor, who announced through his attorney Tuesday that he wouldn't play his senior season at Ohio State. Like coach Jim Tressel eight days earlier, Pryor took a bullet for the program. The 6-foot-6 uber-athlete from Jeanette, Pa., will forever be remembered by people in scarlet and gray as the player who brought down Tressel, when in fact he might be the player who saves Ohio State from most of the sins of the Tressel era. Since he doesn't plan to play another college game, Pryor can give NCAA investigators a one-fingered salute if they knock on his door. He doesn't have to say a word to them. Without Pryor's attempts to explain how so much Buckeyes equipment wound up on the market with his signature affixed or how he wound up with a fresh ride every few months during his time at Ohio State, the investigators might hit dead ends as they try to determine whether Ohio State lacked control of its football program.
Of course, if he wanted to, Pryor could burn Ohio State's football program to the ground. That's why the Buckeyes had better be nice.
Pryor could explain how that gear got out of Ohio State's locker room. He could explain how he wound up taking a two-day, out-of-state test drive. He could explain why he drove cars with dealer plates. No matter what he says, that wouldn't be good for Ohio State.
If Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith is smart and clings to any shred of hope for his continued employment in Columbus, he has quietly convinced boosters to buy Pryor's silence. That's perfectly legal now, and if we learned anything from Reggie Bush, it's that the cheapskate could have kept USC off the NCAA chopping block had he paid a measly $300,000 to a couple of wannabe agents to keep their mouths shut. Pryor doesn't have to play by the NCAA's rules anymore. Ohio State officials should do everything within their power to keep him happy. They should be good at that; it sounds as if that's how they got in this mess in the first place.
Is Pryor a bad person because he broke NCAA rules that said he didn't actually own his awards or his signature? Is he evil because he benefitted financially from being the star quarterback at a major college powerhouse? I don't know. I've interviewed the guy face-to-face three times, and certainly never for long enough to make any value judgments. It seems Pryor didn't take into account how his actions would affect his teammates. It seems he got some cash and some sweet tattoos, and all it cost was his reputation. But that's easy for me to say. I didn't have to walk past my jersey for sale in the mall and at the university bookstore.
Pryor took full advantage of the college football experience. With apologies to Jay-Z, Pryor wasn't a businessman. He was a business, man. He understood his market value. That may be against NCAA rules, but the jury remains out on whether it's wrong.
Payment by scholarship is a great deal for about 98 percent of the athletes at the Division I level. It's a terrible deal for the other two percent, and Pryor belonged to that group. Consider this. During Pryor's sophomore year, Ohio State reported $63.8 million in football revenue. How much of that $63.8 million did Ohio State earn because of Pryor? That's tough to say. Certainly, Tressel deserved a huge share. That's probably why he was paid $3.5 million, which may still have been a bargain. Let's conservatively estimate that a star quarterback is responsible for one fiftieth of his program's revenue. That's quite conservative, especially considering Ohio State hawked more than a dozen variations on Pryor's No. 2 jersey on its Web site. Assuming that share, Pryor made $1.3 million for the school. According to Ohio State's Web site, a second-year student spending all four quarters on campus should expect to pay $67,784 in tuition, room, board and books. This is an actual cost of attendance figure, and we know the NCAA scholarship formula does not cover actual cost of attendance at most schools, so Pryor's deal probably paid less. Even if he made $40,000 signing his name as ESPN reported late Tuesday, he was a bargain.
As an added bonus, to enter a system that would pay him a fraction of what he would earn in an open market, Pryor had to sign away the rights to his likeness to Ohio State and the NCAA. The NCAA believes it actually owns these rights in perpetuity, but former UCLA basketball player Ed O'Bannon and his fellow plaintiffs are about to rectify that little injustice.
Fans of college football, most of whom seem to prefer capitalism in their own economic lives, tend to turn into raving Marxists whenever someone such as Pryor does something that shines a light on the thriving black market created by the NCAA's insistence on an artificial price ceiling on the bulk of its labor force. A scholarship should be good enough for him, they say. It's good enough for everyone else, they say. Yet if their company suddenly announced that everyone would earn an identical salary, they would quit in a minute if it meant they would be paid less than market value.
Pryor thumbed his nose at that system. He could have been patient and enjoyed his payday in the pros, but he was making money for Ohio State now. Why not share in the largesse? That might make him an NCAA outlaw. That might make him a bad teammate. It makes him a good capitalist.
So now Pryor will head off to play football for an over-the-table salary. He might play in Canada. He might enter the NFL's supplemental draft, if there is one. He may never make it in the NFL as a quarterback, but the league usually can find a place for 6-foot-6, 235-pounders who can run circles around a defense. The smarter Ohio State fans will understand the value of Pryor's departure and its timing. The dumber ones will curse his name for decades. Just don't curse it too loud, because ticking him off might tempt him to dial a number in the 317 area code.
Riiiiiiiiing.
Operator: You've reached NCAA headquarters. How may I direct your call?
Pryor: Julie Roe Lach in enforcement, please.
Lach: This is Julie.
Pryor: What do you want to know?
It's funny. For the low, low price of a scholarship, so many people thought they owned a piece of Terrelle Pryor. Now he owns them.








Terrelle Pryor signings netted thousands


COLUMBUS -- Terrelle Pryor, who announced through his attorney Tuesday that he would bypass his senior season at Ohio State, made thousands of dollars autographing memorabilia in 2009-10, a former friend who says he witnessed the transactions has told "Outside the Lines."

The signings for cash, which would be a violation of NCAA rules, occurred a minimum of 35 to 40 times, netting Pryor anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 that year, the former friend says. The source spoke to ESPN under the condition that his face not be aired on TV and that his name not be published.

He said Pryor was paid $500 to $1,000 each time he signed mini football helmets and other gear for a Columbus businessman and freelance photographer, Dennis Talbott. Talbott twice denied to ESPN that he ever paid Pryor or any other active Buckeye athlete to sign memorabilia. He said last week he has only worked with former players to set up signings. On Tuesday evening, he declined to comment whether he had ever operated a sports memorabilia business and said he was not an Ohio State booster.

Pryor's former friend also told "Outside the Lines" that the player often received preferential treatment in the Columbus community, receiving thousands of dollars in free food at local restaurants and convenience stores, free drinks at bars and free tattoos. In addition, he said the quarterback had access to free loaner cars from local dealerships. The source said he spent nearly every day with Pryor before their relationship soured when Pryor began taking on a more "arrogant" attitude after his 2009-10 season.

He said Pryor would get the merchandise to sign from Talbott, who would "bring it to TP, and he would sign it and he would bring him cash. Dennis would give him cash." He said he witnessed the transactions occur about three to four times a week at Pryor's apartment.

The former friend said Pryor would spend his money lavishly at times, that the player had a "shoe fetish" and bought many expensive hats, belts and pieces of jewelry. He said he was particularly fond of Gucci items. ESPN independently confirmed Pryor made multiple such purchases.

Pryor's attorney, Larry James, denied the allegations against his client.

"Terrelle did not sign memorabilia for cash," he said.

Pryor may not have been the first active Buckeye player to collect cash for signatures from Talbott. The parent of one former Ohio State player told "Outside the Lines" that he saw Talbott provide what he called "stacks of money" to active Buckeye players, including a player now in the NFL.

Pryor's former friend said he was wary of Talbott: "He's the type of person that ... I think he really took advantage over TP because he was that person, and he would bring him, he would bring TP like memorabilia to sell for other people. So Dennis is not a good guy for college athletes. That's the guy you really don't want to be around."

Talbott, 40, shot photos of the major sports teams in Ohio, including Ohio State and the Cincinnati Bengals, as a freelance photographer. He has sold images to ESPN.com in the past.

On Tuesday, he denied that he ever received game tickets from players, though records from Ohio State show that he and his wife were on a player's will-call ticket list multiple times throughout the 2008 season. When asked about those records, Talbott said he couldn't remember if he had received such tickets.

According to public websites, Talbott claims to have earned an undergraduate degree from Kent State University and later attended Ohio State briefly.

He has managed or owned staffing and employment recruiting businesses over the last decade, though a search of public records reveals a series of liens and financial judgments against him. The most substantial include an Internal Revenue Service lien filed in 2009 for $278,875 in unpaid federal taxes, followed by a state of Ohio tax lien in 2010 for $74,227.

The latest news about Pryor comes just eight days after Buckeyes coach Jim Tressell was forced to resign for not reporting information he'd received about players receiving improper benefits.

Pryor's career at Ohio State, which started with so much promise and potential, came to an abrupt and scandal-ridden end Tuesday evening, when he announced through his attorney that he would not play for the Buckeyes this season. He had already been suspended for the first five games for breaking NCAA rules by accepting improper benefits from the owner of a tattoo parlor.

"In the best interests of my teammates, I've made the decision to forgo my senior year of football at The Ohio State University," Pryor said in a statement issued by James.

James said entering the next NFL supplemental draft is Pryor's "desire." But James acknowledged labor uncertainty could lead to consideration of the Canadian Football League or working with a personal quarterback coach first.










Terrelle Pryor exiting OSU amid scandal



The Ohio State quarterback announced through his attorney Tuesday that he would not play for the Buckeyes this season. He had already been suspended for the first five games for breaking NCAA rules by accepting improper benefits from the owner of a tattoo parlor.

"In the best interests of my teammates, I've made the decision to forgo my senior year of football at The Ohio State University," Pryor said in a statement issued by Columbus lawyer Larry James.


More on Pryor's OSU exodus

Adam Rittenberg says the departure of Ohio St. QB Terrelle Pryor was now unavoidable, as scrutiny in Columbus escalated and a wave of widening NCAA allegations into his car usage deeply tarnished the image of Buckeyes football. Blog

• Rittenberg: Next move for Buckeyes? • Big Ten blog: Can Bauserman thrive?

If Terrelle Pryor wants to know who led him to look for a paying football job a year before he wanted to leave, look in the mirror, Ivan Maisel writes. Story
• Stats & Info: Pryor an OSU all-timer

While Terrelle Pryor has left behind profound questions, Mel Kiper Jr. ponders another looming big one: Is Terrelle Pryor likely jumping to the NFL via the supplemental draft as a QB or potential wideout? Story

James said entering the next NFL supplemental draft is Pryor's "desire." But James acknowledged labor uncertainty could lead to consideration of the Canadian Football League or working with a personal quarterback coach first.

James said Pryor told him of the decision within the hour and that Pryor said it was "in the best interest of my teammates."

The Cleveland Plain Dealer first reported Pryor's announcement.

The NCAA is looking into all aspects of Ohio State's once-glittering program, from cash and tattoos to players, car deals for athletes and other potential violations.

Pryor's announcement comes just eight days after Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel was forced to resign for knowing about the players' improper benefits but not telling any of his superiors.

"He did not want to be a a distraction to his teammates," James said of Pryor. "This is something he came to consider after much thought."

Ohio State's athletic director, Gene Smith, quickly issued a statement wishing Pryor the best.

"We understand Terrelle's decision and wish him well in this next phase of his life," Smith said. "We hope he returns to The Ohio State University one day to finish his degree."

Luke Fickell, who will serve as Ohio State's interim head coach in place of Tressel this fall, found out about Pryor's decision on Tuesday night.

"I was notified this evening that Terrelle has decided to pursue a professional career," Fickell said. "I wish him the best in his pursuits."

Pryor's high school coach Ray Reitz said his former quarterback's move would "probably best for everybody."

"Terrelle can get out of the spotlight and just play football," he said. "The sad part is, as a player, he was tremendous. It's just that all this will be a part of his legacy. It's a shame. I hope he gets a shot at quarterback in the NFL so he can prove people wrong. I think NFL teams want to win so I don't think they'll hold this too much against him."

Pryor came to Ohio State on March 19, 2007, from Jeannette, Pa., as the most acclaimed high school quarterback prospect in the country. His career will be remembered in his adoptive home state for his three victories in as many tries against archrival Michigan, and victories in the Rose and Allstate Sugar Bowl.

But it will also be remembered for a series of missteps and controversies that seemed to follow the 6-foot-6, 233-pound physical specimen wherever he went and no matter what he said.

The Doug Gottlieb Show
Play Podcast
ESPN.com's Pat Forde comments on Terrelle Pryor's decision to not return to Ohio State for his senior year. And he thinks USC's situation is worse than what happened at Ohio State.

More Podcasts »
In the midst of an NCAA inspection into his cars, he drove a sports car to practice on the day that Tressel resigned. Even when it was shown that his mother had legally bought the car, which is four years old, many fans were angry. The fact that he was driving it made it headline news across the state and around the Big Ten.

On the field, Pryor was very good. He had a 31-4 record as a starter (starting one bowl game as a wide receiver), rushed for an Ohio State-record for a quarterback 2,164 yards and passed for 6,177 yards. He was often at his best in big games, holding the school record with seven games with at least 300 yards of total offense and 22 games with at least 200.

But there were other moments that kept him from ever becoming a fan favorite.

He wore "Vick" on an eyeblack patch in honor of Michael Vick in 2009, after the NFL quarterback had been involved in a dogfighting operation. Pryor then infuriated many by saying, "Not everybody's the perfect person in the world. I mean, everyone kills people, murders people, steals from you, steals from me, whatever. I think that people need a second chance."

After Wisconsin beat the Buckeyes in October, handing them their only loss last season, Pryor petulantly said that Ohio State could beat the Badgers nine out of 10 times.

He also has called former Ohio State quarterback and current ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit "a fake Buckeye" for questioning Pryor's emotional sideline behavior.

Few NFL draft experts consider Pryor to be a ready-for-the-NFL quarterback. With his speed and size, he might be better cut out as a big wide receiver in the mold of Plaxico Burress.

Despite the NFL labor problems, a supplemental draft could still be held this summer, although no one has yet committed to entering it. Former Ohio State star Cris Carter went that route after he lost his senior season due to NCAA infractions involving an agent and he went on to a stellar career as one of the best receivers in NFL history.

Ohio State will go before the NCAA's committee on infractions on Aug. 12. With Tressel no longer with the program, along with Pryor who has been the most visible of those who were suspended, it was no surprise that Buckeyes fans expressed relief at Pryor's surprise announcement.

With Pryor no longer a college football player, he is no longer obligated to meet with the NCAA.

James would not comment on whether Pryor would continue to cooperate with the NCAA.

James said that Pryor was reflective when he made the decision to quit college football.

"You know how sometimes you have the weight of the world on your shoulders and then something like this takes a little bit off," James said. "He's still only 21."