One of the primary culprits in the North Carolina agent-player scandal, Gary Wichard of Pro-Tect Management, has been suspended for 9 months by the NFLPA for improper contact with Tar Heel DL Marvin Austin.
Yahoo! Sports reports that Wichard was given the option to appeal his suspension, but that Wichard chose not to, despite the fact that Wichard has denied any improper contact with Austin.
As you probably recall, Wichard was documented to be very, very chummy with former North Carolina assistant John Blake who, as it turned out, was helping hand out improper benefits like Christmas presents from the Salvation Army. Blake resigned from his position on Butch Davis’ staff in September.
Additionally, the NFLPA has also moved to revoke the certification of “agent” Teague Egan, the 22-year-old USC undergrad who provided a golf cart ride to USC running back Dillon Baxter. Baxter was suspended one game -- USC’s loss to Oregon State -- for receiving the benefit.
“We appreciate that the NFLPA let us know about its action promptly so we could alert our players, including those who are soon to be draft eligible,” USC vice president of compliance Dave Roberts said. “Although the NFLPA has decertified Egan, USC would still view any benefit received from him by a current student-athlete to be impermissible under NCAA agent rules.”
It’s going to take multiple entities to, at the very least, monitor the agent-athlete problem and, given the fact the NCAA currently couldn’t win a popularity contest between them, Bobby Petrino and Bo Pelini, the actions taken by the NFLPA were, if nothing else, helpful and cooperative.