There's been a lot of uproar about NFL Commissioner Goodell making Pryor eligible for the NFL Supplemental Draft, but suspending him for the first 5 games. There was talk of "collusion" with the NCAA, since it had already suspended him for the first 5 games of this season before additional information came to light that ultimately made him ineligible due to the benefits that he took over the last couple years at Ohio State.
Since he was now ineligible, Pryor decided to declare for the NFL Draft. But since he did that after the submission deadline he wasn't eligible for the regular draft. Thus the supplemental draft, though there was debate over the fact that his situation wasn't exactly a circumstance outside of his control, which is the normal criteria for opening a supplemental draft. In that case he'd have to wait for next year's draft. Just like Mike Williams did out of USC a few years ago. Williams went pro late, then tried to sue his way into the NFL Draft. He lost the suit, and they didn't open up a special draft for him. He had to wait until the next April.
Goodell felt that Pryor had manipulated the timing of when he confessed additional violations to the NCAA, which then escalated things from a "minor" 5 game suspension to being totally ineligible, so that he could avoid the draft and talk to teams individually to try to get some control over what team takes him in the supplemental draft. Any team can make a pick, they just lose a corresponding regular draft pick the next draft.
Had Pryor finished off his admissions to the NCAA earlier he could have then declared for the regular draft, but he'd then be stuck playing for the team that drafts him. He still is now, but teams don't have to draft in the supplemental draft if there's nothing that interests them. I think there are 4 or 5 players overall this year due to various circumstances. So Pryor can make a sales pitch to stir up interest.
He'd also been due a 5 game suspension from the NCAA. Given that he left the NCAA on bad terms, due to being caught receiving improper benefits, like free cars, from a booster, it's totally reasonable for the NFL to hold to the same thing. The NCAA and NFL don't work together, nor should they be obligated to. But since 99.9 % of players in the NFL come in from college football, the NFL should do its part to help uphold the integrity of the NCAA by not turning a blind eye to players who violated rules so badly that they got suspended, then later lost their eligibility in a situation that ultimately got Ohio State on NCAA probation and Coach Jim Tressel fired. If the NFL does nothing that just says "do what you want guys. Don't worry about what the NCAA does to you. Come to the NFL. We'll forget all about it and give you millions of dollars." That would just make things worse
A case could also be made of "if you don't play by the NCAA rules who says you'll play by the NFL rules?" So that shouldn't be rewarded. In truth Pryor not being able to play or practice for the first 5 games is minor. He probably wouldn't be playing anyway. He can still be at his team facilities and it would probably take him 5 games to learn his team's offense and get into football shape again, all of which he can do in that 5 weeks.
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