Jim Tressel raised some eyebrows earlier this week when he revealed the only reason the five Ohio State players suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season will be permitted to play in the Sugar Bowl is because they all pledged to not bail for the NFL draft.
As noted by us and many, many others, there’s literally nothing to prevent any of the Buckeye Five — quarterback Terrelle Pryor, offensive lineman Mike Adams, running back Boom Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas — from reneging on their promise and bolting for the NFL draft following the Arkansas game.
Speaking to the media Saturday morning, Pryor said he will absolutely keep his word and return to the Buckeyes for his senior season. Pryor, though, was merely speaking for himself, and strongly suggested that unnamed ones amongst the remaining four players, because of their personal situations, may sing a different tune upon the conclusion of the bowl game.
“It’s important to keep your word, but at the same time, some guys have different situations, and I think some guys pledged and some guys, you know, we were just basically saying sorry,” Pryor said. “I know other guys are in different situations. I can’t really think that if they would choose to leave they were breaking the pledge, because I don’t say automatically. I think some guys have different situations.
“Speaking for myself, once you pledge something, I think you got to keep your word.”
Again, and other than tainting your character by going back on a promise, there would be zero repercussions for any of the suspended juniors who decided to make his way to the NFL draft.
There’s also the matter repaying the impermissible benefits the players received. Each of the five will have to not only serve the five-game suspension, but they will also be forced to pay anywhere between $1,000 and $2,500 — each — to a charity before they can be reinstated. Supposedly, their respective family’s financial situation prompted them to sell rings and other memorabilia; how the hell are they going to be able to come up with the money to repay what they had previously pocketed?
I guess they could always sell their Sugar Bowl rings if the Buckeyes win. Or have a member of their family sell it without their knowledge.
Come on, man, don’t be so naive. These kids all got more than what they sold these things for. They went to a booster who gave the kids an ATM card with access to a slush fund account with plenty of money in it so don’t go crying for these guys. Just stupid to assume these kids have less money than anyone else going to college who has to work in the summer’s to make ends meet. Plus the fact they probably have cushy sit on their ass jobs during the summer the boosters also line them up with. Just show up, surf the internet all day, pretend to do something, and get paid for it. BS they’re poorer than any other kid out there.
Pryor NEEDS the extra year, even if it’s half a season. If he entered the draft now, he’d end up being a free agent and would be better off heading to Canada to get playing time because he won’t get it in the NFL.
I was disgusted with him in choosing Ohio State over Penn State. The same with Henne of Michigan. Both are from Pennsylvania. But we did keep Kerry Collins (Reading, PA) and look what he did with himself. Now it’s the best thing to happen in Happy Valley in a couple of years.
is jamie54 a moron or am I missing something?
where the hell are you pulling this boosters with agents and ATM crap lol I mean what player in his right mind would get an agent through a tatoo parlor……yeah that would be a great business decision
and for fair market value, I’m willing to bet there are hundreds of people who would drop a grand or more easily for a big BCS conference championship ring lol yeah no one would pay $1000 for an Ohio state ring, or a Florida championship ring, or a USC championship right lol
dude get over yourself lol and who says it’s easy to be a college athlete. Practice for 2 hours every day, plus a mandatory 2 hour study time at a library monitored by school officials (at ohio st), all on top of a minimum 13 credit hours (at osu b/c of a quarter system) lol plus summer practice and camps
are they getting an easy free ride? Yeah, of course
is it as easy as you make it to be? Heck no
Hey gotta keep my mouth shut put your diaper back on and get a hold of yourself. Didn’t say it was easy but that’s the way it is. They don’t like it, then don’t play the game, don’t go to school. There are literally millions of other college athletes doing the same routine and not getting in trouble. The ass kissing you give these guys is what enables them to keep doing what they’re doing. Sorry, idiot, don’t feel sorry at all for them. And man, you’re not missing something, you’re missing everything, like a brain. Millions have done it in the past but your ass kissing makes them feel like they should be more privileged than anyone else. They get plenty of breaks, they get great food and training, they get all the tutors they need, and dumbasses like you kissing their ass. STFU and get a life.
To Pryor: just shut up.
lol I think someone needs to explain to jaime here that if we didn’t do this system, we wouldn’t be getting the kind of talent that we get. Look at these players from lower economic backgrounds, and you expect them to not go to college?
Madam I believe you need to put your diaper back on and understand the way shit works lol if a poor dude from a ghetto is all-world, should he go to the community college and not play football because he can’t play pay to go to a big university?
lady you are such a delusional fool lol
jamie54,
I don’t think a single thing you said had any merit. Congrats. That’s not easy to do.
smokehouse56,
Yeah, McGloin definitely made Lion fans forget about Pryor. You could make a case that Darryl Clark was better than Pryor will be as a QB, but it ends there. This year and next will see PSU in desperate need of an effective QB.
All of the suspended players should bolt for the NFL. To be punished by the school for making a few measly bucks without really doing anything wrong is a travesty, especially after they helped Ohio State rake in millions by their performance on the football field.
Shows pryor character when he can’t even keep his mouth shut and push finger towards others. What do you expect when the school as well as head coach OK all this and allows these kids to trvel to bowl and play. Look what VT did to players just missing curfew will miss one quarter. What do expect from what should be called The fluffyville.