Manziel Investigated For Autograph Signings
{fshare id=4159}
The NCAA has begun an investigation as to whether Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel received payment for signing hundreds of autographs on photos and sports memorabilia in January, ESPN’s Outside the Lines reported Sunday.
Sources told ESPN that Manziel, who won the Heisman Trophy last season as a redshirt freshman, agreed to sign memorabilia in exchange for a five-figure fee while in Miami to attend the BCS National Championship game.
The sources witnessed the signing but saw no money change hands. Three sources said Manziel signed photographs, footballs, mini football helmets and other items at the request of an autograph broker named Drew Tieman.
According to the report’s sources, Tieman had a meeting with Manziel on Jan. 6. The next day, Manziel and personal assistant Nathan Fitch visited Tieman’s residence and signed hundreds of
items with a number of people in the room.
After the BCS title game, Manziel signed hundreds of additional autographs.
James Garland, the NCAA’s assistant director of enforcement, contacted Tieman in June and wanted to discuss items signed by Manziel that appeared for sale on eBay.
If the NCAA investigation finds that Manziel has violated NCAA rules by accepting money for promoting or advertising the commercial sale of a product or service, he could be ruled ineligible.
Jason Cook, Texas A&M’s senior associate athletics director for external affairs, said in a statement, “It is Texas A&M’s longstanding practice not to respond to such questions concerning specific student-athletes.”
However, in March, Texas A&M’s compliance director, David Batson told ESPN, “Johnny has indicated on numerous occasions and, once again earlier today, that he has never (and to his knowledge, his parents, other relatives and friends have ever) been compensated through cash or other benefits or promises of deferred compensation for providing his autograph.
