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Former Heisman Trophy winner supports some form of the Olympic model so college athletes can profit off their likeness.
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When the first story broke about Johnny Manziel allegedly getting paid for signing photos, another former Heisman Trophy winner became very curious about the public's reaction. ESPN analyst Desmond Howard tweeted on Aug. 4: "With Johnny potentially caught up in a 'paid for likeness' case, pay close attention to the number of people who NOW support athlete vs NCAA."
Two weeks later, the public is talking about the fairness of NCAA amateurism rules more than Howard can ever remember. This is not to say Howard necessarily believes Manziel is a sympathetic figure. Rather, Howard said in an interview today he finds it "really comical" people are finding their voice now to support college athletes.
"They didn't do this with Terrelle Pryor or A.J. Green," said Howard, referring to the former college football stars the NCAA suspended in recent years for selling their own memorabilia. "But they're going to find their voice with Johnny Manziel. To me, it's really comical."
Howard didn't specify who he was referring to about increased support of college athletes' rights. In recent days, NFL stars Adrian Peterson and Dez Bryant and Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp were among the high-profile people criticizing the NCAA's stance on amateurism, not to mention criticism by the media.
Peterson said college athletes should make money off their name. Bryant, who was suspended by the NCAA for lying during an investigation, said he would be mad if Manziel isn't suspended but takes greater issue with how the NCAA treats people.
Sharp, whose university system stands to benefit by having Manziel on the field, told a Dallas TV station "something is wrong with the system when we can make money off of our football players, the NCAA can make money off of our football players and they can't be treated like Olympic athletes."
Howard has been vocal in recent years about saying players should get paid for their likeness.
"Since Reggie Bush, since anybody and everybody in between, I've always said it from Day One when it wasn't popular to say," Howard said. "I was out there on a limb. ... It's funny to see everybody get on this bandwagon and start this hate the NCAA campaign. They finally found their voices when Johnny Manziel got allegedly popped for doing something illegal which pertains to getting paid for compensating likeness."
Howard said he supports some form of the Olympic model to compensate college athletes.
The International Olympic Committee prevented Olympians for decades from being paid for endorsements, memorabilia deals and other business opportunities. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the bipartisan Amateur Sports Act in response to criticism of arbitrary rules applied on Olympic athletes by the Amateur Athletic Union, which oversaw U.S. amateur athletes at the time, including Olympians.
The AAU was essentially removed from governing. Olympians soon began profiting from sponsorships and endorsements, and the IOC removed the word "amateur" from its charter in 1986. Professional athletes now regularly participate in the Olympics.
"A lot of people say (college athletes) are getting this education, but they don't understand what you give up when you give up your likeness," said Howard, who is fighting a lawsuit over a photographer's use of his famous Heisman Trophy pose in 1991. "The Olympic model makes a lot of sense. Nothing has to be done the exact same way that another organization does it. But that can be a good foundation and tweak it for your needs."
Howard said he has a conference call soon with attorneys about possibly joining the Ed O'Bannon plaintiffs in the athletes' likeness lawsuit against the NCAA, Electronic Arts and Collegiate Licensing Company. Howard said joining remains "under heavy contemplation."
Michael Hausfeld, the lead attorney for the O'Bannon plaintiffs, has said Howard's support would be welcomed pending upcoming rulings by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken.
Said Howard: "The tide is starting to turn against the NCAA."
Read More Here...
When the first story broke about Johnny Manziel allegedly getting paid for signing photos, another former Heisman Trophy winner became very curious about the public's reaction. ESPN analyst Desmond Howard tweeted on Aug. 4: "With Johnny potentially caught up in a 'paid for likeness' case, pay close attention to the number of people who NOW support athlete vs NCAA."
Two weeks later, the public is talking about the fairness of NCAA amateurism rules more than Howard can ever remember. This is not to say Howard necessarily believes Manziel is a sympathetic figure. Rather, Howard said in an interview today he finds it "really comical" people are finding their voice now to support college athletes.
"They didn't do this with Terrelle Pryor or A.J. Green," said Howard, referring to the former college football stars the NCAA suspended in recent years for selling their own memorabilia. "But they're going to find their voice with Johnny Manziel. To me, it's really comical."
Howard didn't specify who he was referring to about increased support of college athletes' rights. In recent days, NFL stars Adrian Peterson and Dez Bryant and Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp were among the high-profile people criticizing the NCAA's stance on amateurism, not to mention criticism by the media.
Peterson said college athletes should make money off their name. Bryant, who was suspended by the NCAA for lying during an investigation, said he would be mad if Manziel isn't suspended but takes greater issue with how the NCAA treats people.
Sharp, whose university system stands to benefit by having Manziel on the field, told a Dallas TV station "something is wrong with the system when we can make money off of our football players, the NCAA can make money off of our football players and they can't be treated like Olympic athletes."
Howard has been vocal in recent years about saying players should get paid for their likeness.
"Since Reggie Bush, since anybody and everybody in between, I've always said it from Day One when it wasn't popular to say," Howard said. "I was out there on a limb. ... It's funny to see everybody get on this bandwagon and start this hate the NCAA campaign. They finally found their voices when Johnny Manziel got allegedly popped for doing something illegal which pertains to getting paid for compensating likeness."
Howard said he supports some form of the Olympic model to compensate college athletes.
The International Olympic Committee prevented Olympians for decades from being paid for endorsements, memorabilia deals and other business opportunities. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the bipartisan Amateur Sports Act in response to criticism of arbitrary rules applied on Olympic athletes by the Amateur Athletic Union, which oversaw U.S. amateur athletes at the time, including Olympians.
The AAU was essentially removed from governing. Olympians soon began profiting from sponsorships and endorsements, and the IOC removed the word "amateur" from its charter in 1986. Professional athletes now regularly participate in the Olympics.
"A lot of people say (college athletes) are getting this education, but they don't understand what you give up when you give up your likeness," said Howard, who is fighting a lawsuit over a photographer's use of his famous Heisman Trophy pose in 1991. "The Olympic model makes a lot of sense. Nothing has to be done the exact same way that another organization does it. But that can be a good foundation and tweak it for your needs."
Howard said he has a conference call soon with attorneys about possibly joining the Ed O'Bannon plaintiffs in the athletes' likeness lawsuit against the NCAA, Electronic Arts and Collegiate Licensing Company. Howard said joining remains "under heavy contemplation."
Michael Hausfeld, the lead attorney for the O'Bannon plaintiffs, has said Howard's support would be welcomed pending upcoming rulings by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken.
Said Howard: "The tide is starting to turn against the NCAA."
