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Goodell’s Missed Opportunity

After months of uncertainty, an NCAA scandal that left Ohio State to fire a big-name coach and constant negative media coverage, the Terrelle Pryor Sweepstakes is under way. On Thurs., Aug. 18 the former Buckeye quarterback was deemed eligible for the National Football League’s Supplemental Draft, leaving teams with an opportunity to get an immense talent for possibly a low price.

Regardless of the opportunity it brings for teams interested in Pryor, the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell missed an opportunity to set a precedent to help crack down on pay-for-play and other NCAA scandals that are sweeping the nation.

Before Ohio State’s Sugar Bowl, the NCAA deemed that Pryor and a few other players would be suspended for part of the 2011 season due to receiving tattoo work in exchange for game paraphernalia. Months after, Sports Illustrated rocked the college football world by revealing numerous violations regarding Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel, including one that claimed he covered up a possible NCAA violation for Pryor. Ohio State was forced to part ways with Tressel and the hits just kept coming for Ohio State. Pryor’s driving record was questioned when he was cited several time and had his license suspended. His leased Nissan sports car became a point of interest. After further questioning by the NCAA, Pryor decided to leave Ohio State. His plan was to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft.

However, the legitimacy of his draft-status was in question. After a long deliberation process, the league granted him eligibility for the Supplemental Draft. This could have been Commissioner Goodell’s big moment, but his five-game suspension was much too light.

Goodell is arguably the most disliked sports commissioner of the era (although Bud Selig would be hard to dethrone). Players have lashed out at him, fans undeservingly booed him at the draft and he’s constantly labeled a tyrant for his “Player Personal Conduct Policy”. Much of his flack is undeserving, especially for the personal conduct policy.

In regards to Pryor, Goodell would have been crucified for his decision either way he ruled; the man is just not liked. However, he had a chance to take a stand on a subject that everybody shies away from, the problems with NCAA violations and what to do with people who are caught but already out of the NCAA system. For instance, Pete Carroll obviously had some knowledge of what was going on at USC but wisely moved to Seattle before he could be implicated and Reggie Bush already had a Super Bowl ring people before found out he received improper benefits.

It may not be his job to deal with such violations, but the message he sent to NCAA violators and Pryor is that you can cheat and still get rewarded in the end.

After the NFL has pushed HGH testing to ensure the validity of the game, Goodell came out and let’s Pryor into the league. Yes, he is suspended for the first five games of the season, but with Pryor likely being a third-string quarterback it wasn’t like he was going to play anyway. Also, he would have been suspended for the same amount of games if he would have stayed at Ohio State.

Pryor broke NCAA rules, got caught and now is going to be rewarded by being eligible and having a professional contract.

With all of the media attention that NCAA violations have received in the last few months including Ohio State, USC and most recently Miami, Goodell had an opportunity to show individual players, agents, NCAA programs and the media that players that throw away their college careers will have to pay a price at the next level. The NFL Commissioner could have forced Pryor to sit out the entire year and apply for the NFL Draft in April. Instead, he is rewarding Pryor’s misbehavior by letting him play this season.

Yes, letting Pryor play is not a wise decision by the NFL, but that’s no longer relevant because Goodell has unwisely let him play. Teams will move forward and look to gain a player with a lot of raw talent, a lot of question marks and tremendous potential.

If a team drafts a player in the Supplemental Draft they forfeit the same pick in the next draft. So, although he is a phenomenally gifted athlete, he shouldn’t be taken with a pick before the fifth round.

The Raiders are one team that may look to make a move for Pryor, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Pryor fits the Raiders’ mold. Al Davis loves players that have good measurables. Pryor is tall, fast and can be a game-changer because of his pure-athletic talent. Everything Davis looks for when he drafts; Pryor may not be ready for a starting job, but Davis loves players that look good on paper. With Derek Campbell probably not being a long-term option, it might be worth a late-round pick to take a chance on a player that will be a project.

The fact that Goodell isn’t drawing a line in the sand isn’t Pryor’s problem. Pryor is phenomenal athlete that could make some team very happy in the future, or could turn out to be a complete bust, but Goodell has missed an opportunity to make a statement that could have at least served as a bandage for a larger problem that looms over college football and effects the NFL, improper benefits.

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