Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant isn't going to be happy if Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel isn't suspended for allegedly profiting off signing autographs. Bryant feels the NCAA was unfair to him when he was suspended for a far lesser violation, and he blames them for being concerned only with money and TV ratings, ESPN reports.
The NCAA suspended Bryant for 10 games in 2009 for lying to an NCAA investigator about a lunch with NFL Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders - the lunch wasn't even a violation.
"All I did was lie about going over to somebody's house and I got my season taken away from me," Bryant told ESPN. "Still to this day, I think about it. It bothers me. I can't get it back. No matter how much money I make in this league ... that really meant something to me."
Bryant said he never accepted improper benefits at Oklahoma State, and he only lied to the NCAA investigator because he felt scared while being interrogated.
He doesn't think the NCAA is fair or consistent with its punishments, also citing the five-game suspension of former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor in 2011 for accepting improper benefits.
"I just think the NCAA, they don't do a good enough job. I just honestly feel like it's about money and TV ratings."
As for Manziel, Bryant believes college athletes should have the right to profit from signing autographs, but the Cowboys receiver admitted he wouldn't be happy if Manziel escapes scratch-free from the NCAA's investigation.
"Hell, yeah, I'll be mad. I'll be mad," Bryant said. "But I don't want him to get suspended. I would be mad more at the NCAA for how they do things. I just feel like it's not fair. This is something I have no problem talking about because I feel like somebody needs to say something to them and let it be known how they treat people is not right."
"... I don't think my situation was as [bad] as his. Johnny Manziel is a great football player. I really hope him the best. I hope he doesn't get suspended. I pray that he don't get suspended, because I love watching him. But as far as the NCAA, I just think they do a lot of stuff unfair."
Manziel allegedly made thousands of dollars from signing a plethora autographs. If found in violation, his season could be in jeopardy.
