Terrelle Pryor skipping senior season

[Harry0569]

Not surprising but....

- Terrelle Pryor's career at Ohio State, which started with so much promise and potential, has come to an abrupt and scandal-ridden end.

The Ohio State quarterback announced through his attorney on Tuesday that he would not play for the Buckeyes this season.

"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.

Pryor will most likely make himself available for an NFL supplemental draft.

"I would hope so. Also, he would hope so," James said. "But he's going to take the next couple of days to get his head together."

The Cleveland Plain Dealer first reported Pryor's announcement.

Pryor had already been suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for accepting improper benefits from a Columbus tattoo-parlor owner. The NCAA is looking into all aspects of Ohio State's once-glittering program, from cash and tattoos to players, cars 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.

"He did not want to be a a distraction to his teammates," James said. "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."

[Water Pony]

This is not a surprise. NCAA investigators were looking deeper into his role. Sad end to a college career for Terrelle and, perhaps other teammates, especially during a NFL lockout.

[ponyte]

Wonder if Pryor had a buy out clause? Some where, some OSU booster just got a rebate!

[ponyscott]

Wonder if Pryor had a buy out clause? Some where, some OSU booster just got a rebate!

A+++

[stc9]

This is the best thing to happen to Ohio State's Football program since this whole mess started. If Pryor is foregoing his senior season then he doesn't need to speak with the NCAA. Its his choice if he wants to cooperate with the investigation or not. He can tell the NCAA to pound sand and refuse to cooperate. He can submit a statement to the infractions committee denying any/all wrong doing and not actually testify before them. Ohio State can spin their story to the NCAA however they want.

"The Buy Out" clause when put into this context isn't such a joke. I can imagine some big money boosters giving him money to go to the NFL. His exit gives Ohio State some deniability or the ability to hide more in crimes...

[mrydel]

When OSU did not sit the 5 players during the Bowl game, part of the deal of their self imposed penalty was that the players give their word (titter to yourself) that they would not leave the next season and would endure the 5 game suspension. Now that the deal has been broken, it seems that a portion of OSU's self imposed penalty has been aborted thus leaving them open to more scrutiny as the investigation continues.

I know the past history of the NCAA against the big guys, but it does seem that they are trying to make punishments a little more harsh and this will not work in OSU's favor.

[Harry0569]

Now it's coming out that Pryor was paid between 20 and 40k for signing autographs for local businessmen.

- 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.

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.

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.

[Harry0569]

I feel like the [deleted] is going to hit the fan shortly.

[mrydel]

The NCAA keeps punishing the schools and the boosters. Until they find a legal way to punish the players taking the stuff, it will go on forever. The players know better but the worst that happens to them is they have to leave and get paid millions of dollars. If I could only be punished like that I would leave my job tomorrow.

[ponyte]

If only the NCAA had allowed schools to pay players $100-$200 a month this would have never happened. Pryor would have been more than satisfied with say $2400 a year from OSU as compared to unreported income of $20,000+ a year. What is even worse to me is even with the loss of players and a head coach, most preseason polls will have OSU ranked in the top 5 with some projecting them to win the National Championship. Such is the power of the over rated Big X (+II). And if they do win it, it will be 7 years before the BSC strips them of their title after all the dirt has been made public.

[Treadway21]

Someone mentioned the IRS in another thread. This screams audit and IRS investigation - $20,000 is a lot of money to make without paying taxes. Please remind me if Chris Webber got into tax trouble for his under the table money at Michigan.

Cars, tattoos, money, tickets, out of control boosters, a coach resigning; the only thing left out for this scandal to be complete is girls and maybe throw in a politician.

[EastStang]

If I was the University of North Dakota, I'd be really worried right now. The NCAA needs to punish somebody and they need to get OSU out of the headlines. A 8 month exhaustive investigation is in order and then on a Saturday in February, they will wrist slap the Buckeyes. Just like Congressman Wiener got Arnold out of the tabloids, so must something else bump this story and its summer for the NCAA. Not a lot of other things to point to other than the College World Series coming up.

[htownponyfan]

I feel like the [deleted] is going to hit the fan shortly.

That would make my day. It will be interesting to see how the NCAA avoids citing OSU for lack of institutional control. The DP may be off the table but how bout a life sentence?

[leopold]

If only the NCAA had allowed schools to pay players $100-$200 a month this would have never happened. Pryor would have been more than satisfied with say $2400 a year from OSU as compared to unreported income of $20,000+ a year.

Please, please tell me your kidding. But if you're actually serious (or for anybody else who believes this) -

Here's the Gucci website: http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/268317EA9002140#

The shoes start at $550 and go into the thousands (shock). You actually think a hundred bucks a month is going to pay for a Gucci 'shoe fetish'? Seriously? And what crackhouse are you buying jewelry at? No NCAA provided 'stipend' is going to be built for a kid with expensive tastes and they at least are honest about that.
No, he took what he wanted and he was an idiot about it. I mean, Jesus, at least Cam Newton had SOME notion of deniability, even if it WAS his father.

The NCAA keeps punishing the schools and the boosters. Until they find a legal way to punish the players taking the stuff, it will go on forever. The players know better but the worst that happens to them is they have to leave and get paid millions of dollars. If I could only be punished like that I would leave my job tomorrow.

I have to disagree with this. The boosters, with the exception of the 'Naughty Nine' have rarely, if ever been, punished. Maybe the IRS comes after them. But THAT's who you have to find a way to either punish or keep the kids away from, because that's the source of cheating. 90% of the time the 18 year old kid is going to take whatever was offered, and if it's an established multi-millionaire, or real-estate tycoon, or Governor, then he is going to get his notion of right/wrong from them. But we know that kids, even 18 y.o.'s and especially poor ones who hand over that money to their families, aren't going to ever stop taking money.

[mrydel]

I will concede the boosters in the past have not been punished to much extent. I was standing too close to SMU when I said that. But I will not defend the players taking what is offered when they know it is wrong. Being poor does not allow you a free pass to lie, cheat, and steal. If some punishment was handed down to the players, the situation would start to right itself. As far as legally paying players, that is another discussion, but again, the kids know the difference between right and wrong and they will have to deal with those decisions the rest of their life. They may as well start in college if they have not already done so.