Yahoo, Tattoos, and tOSU (1-year bowl ban, 82 scholly limit for 3 years)

[TJnTN]

Sarniak has nothing to do with Pryor's eligibility. He's not a booster, he's a Jeannette businessman who likes good stuff to happen to Jeannette kids. So he was not prevented by NCAA rules from giving gifts to Pryor and his family - much as ESPN would like to imply otherwise.

How does this differ from the Alabama T-Town situation? Besides the fact that T-Town is not getting any press.

 

[HINYG8]

Does anyone know if this TP situation is new? Or is this basically Mo C situation...his mentor gave him benefits so he is no longer eligible?

My understanding was that Sarniak was reviewed and labeled as a non booster with a previous relationship to Pryor that was not built via OSU, or constructed in an effort to get Pryor to select OSU. ..and Sarniak was not connected (booster) to OSU in any fashion beyond his relationship with Pryor.

So if he isn't a booster I think Sarniak could give TP a billion dollars, 10 cars, and anything else that isn't illegal (prostitutes)...as long as the income taxes are addressed..and I have no idea how the gift tax code works.

I don't think Sarniak helping the Pryor family with some cash or assisting with a car payment is a violation. In effect it would be like a family friend helping a college kid make ends meet. In fact, that is exactly what it is.

 

[bassbuckeye07]

My understanding was that Sarniak was reviewed and labeled as a non booster with a previous relationship to Pryor that was not built via OSU, or constructed in an effort to get Pryor to select OSU. ..and Sarniak was not connected (booster) to OSU in any fashion beyond his relationship with Pryor.

So if he isn't a booster I think Sarniak could give TP a billion dollars, 10 cars, and anything else that isn't illegal (prostitutes)...as long as the income taxes are addressed..and I have no idea how the gift tax code works.

I don't think Sarniak helping the Pryor family with some cash or assisting with a car payment is a violation. In effect it would be like a family friend helping a college kid make ends meet. In fact, that is exactly what it is.

but he is hanging his hat on it not making him eligible so he can enter the draft

 

[HINYG8]

but he is hanging his hat on it not making him eligible so he can enter the draft

I still don't quite understand the NFL's position here.

Does Pryor have an agent? If not he should sign one right now...and that should be the end of it.

He can't return to OSU...and I don't even get why the NFL would care if he could. Kids leave early for the draft every year.

 

[tsteele316]

I still don't quite understand the NFL's position here.

Does Pryor have an agent? If not he should sign one right now...and that should be the end of it.

He can't return to OSU...and I don't even get why the NFL would care if he could. Kids leave early for the draft every year.

drew rosenhaus is his agent. has been for a while.

the nfl cares about kids trying to game the draft system. if it was a free for all, kids would not declare for the draft, then apply for the supplemental each year to try and get agreements in place for teams that they want to play for. that's why there has to be an extenuating circumstance that happens to allow a player to get into the supplemental draft. being ruled ineligible for a year is such a thing. just forfeiting your eligibility by signing with an agent is not.

 

[MaxBuck]

but he is hanging his hat on it not making him eligible so he can enter the draft

Where do you get the idea that Pryor relies upon Sarniak payments as the basis for ineligibility? That's a new one on me.

 

[jlb1705]

I still don't quite understand the NFL's position here.

Does Pryor have an agent? If not he should sign one right now...and that should be the end of it.

I doubt that's sufficient. The point of the NFL's rules is to prevent players (and their agents) from gaming the draft system.

 

[Ryan36_1]

I still don't quite understand the NFL's position here.

Does Pryor have an agent? If not he should sign one right now...and that should be the end of it.

He can't return to OSU...and I don't even get why the NFL would care if he could. Kids leave early for the draft every year.

The issue is the NFL doesn't want to turn to supplemental draft into a back-up plan.

Pryor's eligiblity hangs on if NFL lawyers feel that they can make him eligible without setting a precedent where in the future player's can intentionally change their status after the regular draft to get into the supplemental.

(although, I don't know how this is any different from a student intentionally tanking grades to become academically ineligible )

 

[OH10]

The NCAA ruled in 2008 that Sarniak could not provide financial assistance to Pryor. Ohio State was aware of this. Jim Tressel was aware of this. And yet, when the tattoo scandal was revealed to JT, his first call was to Sarniak. And, of course, Sarniak continued to provide benefits to Pryor. There's no evidence that Ohio State knew about it until recently - but that didn't stop the NCAA from hammering USC.

Those are the facts.

 

[bassbuckeye07]

Where do you get the idea that Pryor relies upon Sarniak payments as the basis for ineligibility? That's a new one on me.

from the article Mali posted

The sources said that the NCAA was checking into a trip Pryor made to the Miami area during spring break in March that Sarniak may have helped arrange, along with other benefits that would be considered rules violations.
When pushed to provide explanations, Pryor instead opted to end his college career, the sources said.
The NFL is said to be privy to those details, though James would not confirm that.

 

[Pheasant]

For everyone else

I appreciate that...but why would anyone have let her put her pants on?

 

[MaxBuck]

from the article Mali posted

I think the key is in this phrase:

... other benefits that would be considered rules violations.

Frankly, I think the NCAA likely overstepped its bounds when it suggested that Sarniak needed to scale back his involvement with Pryor. As a family friend, Sarniak should have been able to do whatever he pleased for the young man. He clearly had no pre-existing relationship with Ohio State. I assume whatever the article meant by "other benefits that would be considered violations" had to do with stuff provided by people other than Sarniak, like maybe the alleged autographs-for-cash thing.

Different entirely from the T-Town guys, who are obviously big Bama boosters, and from the sleazebag from South Beach who (allegedly) served as procurer for both players and coaches of Da U.

 

[OH10]

I think the key is in this phrase:

Frankly, I think the NCAA likely overstepped its bounds when it suggested that Sarniak needed to scale back his involvement with Pryor. As a family friend, Sarniak should have been able to do whatever he pleased for the young man. He clearly had no pre-existing relationship with Ohio State. I assume whatever the article meant by "other benefits that would be considered violations" had to do with stuff provided by people other than Sarniak, like maybe the alleged autographs-for-cash thing.

Different entirely from the T-Town guys, who are obviously big Bama boosters, and from the sleazebag from South Beach who (allegedly) served as procurer for both players and coaches of Da U.

I tend to agree, but would Sarniak have been helping Pryor at all if he wasn't a blue-chip quarterback? I doubt it.

 

[buchtelgrad04]

I tend to agree, but would Sarniak have been helping Pryor at all if he wasn't a blue-chip quarterback? I doubt it.

I don't doubt it.

 

[MaxBuck]

I tend to agree, but would Sarniak have been helping Pryor at all if he wasn't a blue-chip quarterback? I doubt it.

Well, that isn't a disqualifying factor. I mean, people wouldn't be helping me if I weren't good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, likeable.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuGf34F0f5g&NR=1"]Stewart Smalley[/ame]