NFL delays supplemental draft; no call on Pryor
Updated: August 17, 2011, 1:17 AM ET
NEW YORK — The NFL supplemental draft originally scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed.
NFL spokesman Michael Signora confirmed Tuesday that the draft will not be held as planned and that teams have been told a new date has not yet been set.
The NFL would be wrong not to make former Ohio State star Terrelle Pryor eligible for the NFL supplemental draft, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen writes. Story
Signora did not say whether former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor would be available for selection.
Pryor was seeking a meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell to make a case for being declared eligible, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen on Sunday. Goodell was reviewing the facts of Pryor’s case.
The rules that govern eligibility for the supplemental draft say simply, “To be eligible for a supplemental draft, a player’s petition for special eligibility must be approved by the League office and his name promulgated to clubs.”
When he announced his departure from Ohio State, Pryor already had been suspended by the school and the NCAA for the first five games of what would have been his senior season this fall for accepting improper benefits, such as cash and discounted tattoos.
Mortensen reported on Monday that a lawyer for Pryor had stated Pryor told the NCAA in May about additional violations he committed while playing for the Buckeyes.
David Cornwell, Pryor’s attorney, told Mortensen that Pryor admitted his mentor, Ted Sarniak, gave him and his mom cash and helped with automobile payments.
After a 2008 NCAA investigation into Pryor’s recruitment, Sarniak, a family friend, was told he could no longer give Pryor money or gifts. Cornwell stated he believes the violation makes Pryor eligible for the NFL’s supplemental draft, since it would have affected Pryor’s 2011 eligibility.
Ohio State is still under NCAA investigation, and Sarniak’s payments have not been addressed publicly.
ESPN was unable to reach an Ohio State spokesman for comment.
The scandal led to coach Jim Tressel’s forced resignation May 30. Tressel acknowledged knowing his players were taking improper benefits but covered it up for more than nine months before Ohio State officials discovered the violations.
Pryor is Ohio State’s all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks, with 2,164 yards. He also threw 57 touchdown passes, tying a school record.
The eligible players so far are former Georgia running back Caleb King, former Northern Illinois safety Tracy Wilson, former Western Carolina cornerback Torez Jones, former Lindenwood University defensive end Keenan Mace, and former North Carolina defensive end Michael McAdoo.
Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
source : espn.go.com
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Submited at Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 at 6:00 am on Sports by blum
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