Terrelle Pryor, Former “Student Athlete” Hires and Agent

June 13th, 2011

And now Terrelle Pryor has officially hired an agent.

Pryor’s lawyer, Larry James, said Monday that Pryor was in Miami and had signed an agreement with Rosenhaus, a high-powered agent who represents some of the biggest names in sports. His client list includes standout wide receivers Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco along with former Ohio State running back and Pryor teammate Chris “Beanie” Wells, now with the Arizona Cardinals.

“I am happy that he has reached this point and he’s in secure hands,” James said of Pryor.

Has Ohio State kicked him out yet?

James also formally notified Ohio State that Pryor had signed with an agent, which officially made the three-year starter ineligible in the eyes of the university and the NCAA. That clears the way for the next step in Pryor’s hopes of making it into the NFL.

“The university declares him ineligible,” James said. “Therefore, that is a prerequisite to being eligible for the supplemental draft.”

It’s funny. Pryor could only enter the supplemental draft if he was ineligible. So he made himself ineligible by hiring an agent. But wait, he had a lawyer for weeks! Why did that not make him ineligible? What a farce

I wonder what money James will get from his first contract?

So a note to all “student athletes.” Don’t hire an “agent,” Just hire a “lawyer” working on a contingency who can handle all of your legal matters till you decide to hire an agent.

Update: A legal angle. An attorney who tipped off Jim Tressel about Pryor is now under investigation for ethical violations:

The Ohio Supreme Court is investigating possible misconduct by the attorney who first tipped Ohio State’s football coach to NCAA violations by his players.

Coach Jim Tressel’s decision not to alert university officials to the tip from lawyer Christopher Cicero ultimately led to Tressel’s resignation under pressure for failing to report the violations immediately.

State disciplinary counsel Jonathan Coughlan alleged in a filing Friday that Cicero violated professional conduct rules by revealing information from interviews with a potential client.

The filing cites three emails Cicero sent Tressel on April 2 and April 16. They contain details about Ohio State memorabilia discovered at a local tattoo parlor by federal investigators.

And in other news, the NCAA is holding a summit with College Presidents to consider the nature of college sports and “amateurism“:

Emmert said Monday that he wants to conduct a discussion about the future of Division I sports. One topic being discussed is how to maintain amateurism in college sports. Those rules restrict how athletes are compensated by the schools for their work on the field.

Emmert says he wants more input from university presidents and chancellors about how the NCAA should move forward, too, though he doesn’t expect any changes to occur soon.