I haven't written anything in a while. Been busy and just not feeling as creative with all the things going on in my life. God continues to bless me and my family daily. Humbles me to tears at times--literally. I was reading an article about Tyrell Pryor on ESPN this morning. The title said "Pryor took money for his family." I thought, 'oh boy here we go again. Can they just leave this guy alone?!' Hasn't he paid enough already?! Begrudgingly I read the article. To my surprise it was a pro-TP article. It was a continuation of what Pryor had gone through at THE Ohio State University. He details that he sold his gold pants (a gold charm given as a reward for the ANNUAL beating of michigan--allowed by the NCAA) for $3000. Granted, the charm isn't worth 3k in gold but the significance of them adds to the value. Now what would an 18 year old do with 3k in his pocket after beating your arch rival in your Freshman year at a major 1A college? He sent it home to pay his mom's back rent (4 months behind) and her gas bill. Let me say that again for dramatic effect. An 18 yr old starting in his freshman year at OSU just beat michigan and got his 1st pair of treasured gold pants as a reward, he sold them for 3K and gave the money (all of it) to his mom to help her and his sister keep a roof over their heads and turn the heat on.
Now don't get me wrong, I fully realize if he took 3k his freshman year, he likely took money for the next two as well. I don't know where it was spent. Likely some still went to his family, some went to him as well. I'm not saying or absolving TP of doing some wrong doing (in the eyes of the NCAA). Athletes know when they go to college what the rules are. They know accepting money is against the rules and could likely lead to disciplinary actions--which it did.
What would you do? A lot of articles and judgements have come out. I'm not going to rehash the whole thing and expose my obvious bias...yes I am! They sold stuff given to them by the NCAA! It's their stuff! It's not like they took jerseys that didn't belong to them or footballs or something NOT given to them. They sold their belongings! For what? Money to help out families. Yes, some money was used for his personal gain, but again it was their stuff! It's like your job giving you a gold watch for 20 years of service. You selling that watch and your job telling you now you have to forfeit a raise because of the money you got for a watch they gave you. It's stupid to me and I wont EVER agree/understand it. That along with the Tuck rule--don't ask...
I digress...My point (before my rant) was many people judged TP w/o getting his side. Without putting themselves in his place. Roger Goodell (the discipline commissioner) suspended him for 5 games in a shorten offseason for the NFL. He delayed the supplemental draft in which he was drafted in. Why? To make a point? Why him and why then? Pete Carrol bolted for the NFL just before the NCAA got a hold of USC for their violations--yet no sanctions for him. Jim Tressell got a consultant job with Indy, yet no sanctions. How many players got kicked off of team transferred to other schools and still had no sanctions? (see: Janoris Jenkins 2012 draft class). I wish I knew Goodell's rationale for TP suspension. Throughout all of this TP has tried to remain positive. Other pundits knock his ability and say he'll never be an NFL QB. Those same pundits lauded Jamarcus Russell and Blaine Gabbert as top echelon draft choices. Gabbert's career is still undecided but not off to a good start. TP got better every year at OSU. Passing %, yards, TD improved every year. He's 6'6" 230 lbs, freakishly fast and athletic, yet he doesn't get a chance. People point to last year and say "he can't pick up the play book." He came to a team in August then got suspended from the facility and coaches staff for the first 5 games. Once he got back, the starting QB went down, traded for Palmer then the starting RB went down. Who's going to have time to coach up a rookie QB who wasn't in camp, no OTAs and missed the first 5 games of the season? No one.
New season. New coaching staff. New playbook. What's TP reaction? "I'm there 6 days a week. haven't gone home in months. I'm on level ground with everyone else. I'm learning the a new system like they are." Well not exactly. Leinart was signed. He was coached by the same OC in Texas so he already knows the system. TP will be fine. he's coachable; a great athlete who's gone through some struggles at a young age and has much to prove to his doubters and judges. Oh by the way, those same draft pundits who said he wouldn't amount to an NFL QB admit at his level of progression in college had he played one more year, he very likely would have been a first round pick with all the QB being taken. Definitely gone before the 3rd round where the Raiders took him a year ago.
we'll see who's laughing a few years from now.
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