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Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is being investigated by the NCAA for signing autographs and sports memorabilia for profit, reported ESPN on Sunday as the Heisman Trophy winner and his teammates were reporting for fall camp.
If the NCAA is investigating Manziel and finds he violated NCAA bylaw 12.5.2.1 – accepting money for promoting or advertising the commercial sale of a product or service of any kind – he could be ruled ineligible.
The NCAA, reportedly, launched its investigation when a large number of verified memorabilia signed by Manziel became available on eBay after Manziel had attended the BCS national championship game between Alabama and Notre Dame in Miami in early January. Two sources told ESPN’s Outside the Lines that Manziel agreed to sign autographs in exchange for a five-figure flat fee during his trip. Both sources said they witnessed the signing, but neither saw the actual exchange of money.
Manziel was originally scheduled to address the media Monday morning along with six other teammates about the start of fall camp, provided none of the players are attending class, according to a release sent out by the school Friday.
However, a release sent out Sunday by the school after the ESPN story broke did not include Manziel. Steven Jenkins, Jake Matthews and Julien Obioha were also on the original list of available players, but omitted from Sunday’s update.