Terrell Pryor

So there's a lot of "up-in-arms-ness" over the NFL announcing that Pryor will be eligible for the supplemental draft, while still being suspended the 5 games. I understand it and I understand a lot of people simply dislike guys that are more successful than them who don't show the same "qualities" that they feel they have. Here is how I see it.


I do think he deserves punishment, but I also think making him ineligible would have been a HUGE hinderance to his ability to become a pro. The  punishment for something like his infractions should not result in ruining a guys career. And before you say he lost his chance or doesn't deserve it, his infractions, to me, while serious and illegal seemed fairly pedestrian to what some past athletes have been getting. Not mention with "The U" stuff going on, how would they explain barring Pryor from the NFL while still allowing at least 8 current guys to continue playing without repercussion? I know he went around the system and it could set up a hairy situation in the future, but from the released statement of the NFL, I feel that they think he bent the rules without breaking them. In which case they allowed him to play, as he technically is eligible, yet punished him for the backhanded way he did it, warning that it won't be tolerated anymore. He didn't get out of his five-game suspension he would have served in college, and he most likely won't be playing in games at all this season. Everyone always blasts Goodell for being so stern and harsh with punishment, and then he gives a guy a chance and everyone thinks he's a tool. Taking money as a student athlete is against the rules, but it's a meaningless crime in everyday life and should not destroy a guy's future. He misses out on so much learning and preparation through those first five weeks that the five game suspension will reach farther than the actual time he is barred from participation. I think it's a fair deal.

I think people are getting "undermining the integrity of the rules" mixed up with "breaking the rules." To me, the fact they said the first instead of the latter shows that he didn't break any rules, leading me to believe he was technically eligible in the eyes of the NFL. HOWEVER, they didn't approve of the tactic and never expected something like this to happen.
To compare it to something else, in swimming they introduced the new suits and everyone was up in arms over the records being broken. They weren't technically against the rules, but they did create a distinct advantage over swimmers not using them. Once they realized it, they banned them. But until that point everyone kinda just said "the times aren't really legit, but the suits aren't illegal."
Pryor may have used backdoor ways, but he still may not have broken the rules.  Think of it this way, It you have been hanging out with a girl for a,long time but you never ask her out or never specifically say your dating, you can't really cheat on her. It's a sleazy, dishonest and horrible way of looking at it, but it's still true. Pryor didn't follow the rules but, from how the NFL said it, I don't think he broke them.

So there it is. Im not defending his actions or saying he deserves this, but from what the release said, what Pryor actually did, and the fact that he is still going to have a VERY hard time this season getting any playing time, I'm not upset with the decision to let him "play".

So before you go out and blast the guy, ask this: are you mad because you actually think the "integrity of the draft" is ruined or because you're tired of seeing high profile guys get accepted into the NFL after college transgressions? If it's the first, then make your case. I just don't see it as that harmful. If it's the latter, get off your high horse, everyone makes mistakes, anyone would be trying to get into the draft in his situation, and getting some tattoos and a thousand bucks shouldn't destroy your future.