According to ESPN, Manziel was seen autographing helmets and other stuff, and a broker has been fingered as part of the investigation. Allegedly he met Johnny Manziel at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and Manziel went to the broker's home.
As a journalist, I don't know who leaked the news to Darren Rovell, but it sounds awful likely that it was the NCAA themselves who tipped off the ESPN journalist, in advance of a NCAA press conference which will confirm the investigations. You get this sort of thing in business all the time, with a deal or a big appointment leaked to the Sunday newspapers, and - would you believe it - the company involved suddenly putting out a statement admitting that the Big Appointment or Big Deal is going on.
As someone who loves Penn State but has a soft spot for Georgia, I'd find it incredibly unfair if the NCAA which banned AJ Green for four games for taking $1,000 to sign a bowl jersey did not ban Johnny Manziel for four games - or more - for taking a 'five figure sum' for signing everything but Aggie jockstraps. AJ Green's loss really hurt the 'Dawgs that year, who went 1-3 without Green's presence to start the season. Now, imagine what would happen to Texas A&M if Johnny Manziel was suspended. According to a tweet from blogger Clay Travis, the line in Vegas on the Texas A&M vs Alabama game went from 'Bama being a 6 1/2 point favourite to 'Bama being a 9 1/2 point favourite over the weekend, indicating someone knew.
But as a college football fan who cheered on Texas A&M's antics against Alabama, it would be AWFUL if Johnny Manziel was suspended for a ton of games for violating the NCAA's commandment: "Thou shalt not take money for signatures when in college". Why? First of all, Johnny Manziel is the greatest thing to happen to college football in years. ESPN loves him. The NFL guys are talking about him. Even the world's publications are talking about him - when they usually stick to just the NFL. The guy is doing outrageous stuff - on the field- with his legs and arms, and he quite rightly won the Heisman last year. I have had Texas A&M vs Alabama at Kyle Field in my viewing diary since the last game at Tuscaloosa, which the Aggies won. If the Aggies lose Manziel, the Aggies will get torched. Now, as much as I appreciate Project Saban, I would want to them to get involved in some sort of game this season en route to a National Championship Game....and taking out the game at Kyle Field would simply make it easier for The Dwarfed One to get to Pasadena.
Not only that, but college football would be all the poorer without Johnny Manziel. It would certainly make things less interesting.
