Appeal by Pryor denied by Goodell

NFL notebook

October 01, 2011|Associated Press

Rookie Terrelle Pryor’s five-game suspension, which was related to NCAA violations he committed while at Ohio State, was upheld by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday. The Raiders quarterback had appealed the punishment.

Pryor entered the NFL supplemental draft instead of serving a five-game ban with the Buckeyes after being involved in a scandal that has put Ohio State under NCAA investigation.

“This smacks of a calculated effort to manipulate our eligibility rules in a way that undermines the integrity of, and public confidence in, those rules,’’ Goodell said in his decision.

Pryor was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the supplemental draft Aug. 22. He originally said he would not contest the ban, but changed his mind and filed the appeal through the union. Several members of the NFL Players Association’s executive committee had expressed concerns about Goodell suspending a player who was not yet in the league.

Pryor opted to give up his final season with the Buckeyes soon after coach Jim Tressel was forced out for failing to notify administrators about players - including Pryor - trading memorabilia for cash and tattoos at a Columbus, Ohio, tattoo parlor.

Pryor originally was barred from entering the supplemental draft, then was approved by Goodell, with the proviso he must sit five games.

Goodell said Pryor left Ohio State “in order to avoid the consequences of his conduct while in college - conduct to which he had admitted and for which he had accepted a suspension - and to hasten the day when he could pursue a potentially lucrative professional career in the NFL.’’

Pryor may be activated by the Raiders after their game at Houston Oct. 9.