So, Now We Know A Guy Who Had Gurley Sign Stuff And Then Narc'ed (UPDATED: Gone For The Season?)

((HT: SBNation/Hall, Godfrey))

In the land of college football here in the south, the HQ knows a few things from all of our years of covering it.

1) People are insane when it comes to their teams
2) People are insane when it comes to narcing out other teams to the NCAA
3) People are just flat out insane when it comes to their support of their teams and equally vitriolic in their hatred of others

Because, as we have always known and said: What is the word "fan" short for...???

Fanatic...

And another thing that people are fanatic about is the memorabilia industry and the almighty Yankee dollar- catch the flash-in-the-pan, buy low, sell high, grab material in bulk and try to corner the market.

Which, apparently, one gentleman tried to do with Georgia running back Todd Gurley and then turned heel on him in the middle of the ring in front of God and country.

Kinda like this


So, apparently, a memorabilia dealer sent an e-mail to Hall in late September

I have video of Todd Gurley doing a private autograph signing ***. He has been paid thousands of dollars for his stuff over the last 18 months. I personally paid him for this signing on the video. I have bought and sold game used equipment from him.

I want no compensation. Just want someone to leak this story that's deserving. If you have any interest, give me a call or email. I attached a photo of him in my car signing a mini helmet that I just sold last week on my eBay store.

All I ask is some privacy until we can touch base.

I live on Georgia and would crucified if my name was released.

The video is about 5 minutes long but doesn't show the money exchange.

My cell is **********

I believe this would be the lead story on sports center if ESPN got their hands on this. Hope to hear from you soon.

Hall wanted nothing to do with this since, like most folks think these days, the rule for athletes not being in control of their own person is out-of-date, arcane, and completely unrealistic.

Over $400 and 80 items, this dealer decided to narc on Gurley and is now in hiding.

Andy Staples over at SI has more details:

A check of the James Spence Authentication database revealed 90 consecutively numbered pieces of Gurley-signed memorabilia (J19709-J19799), as well as another lot of 20 consecutively numbered pieces (H85318-H85338) of Gurley-signed memorabilia. JSA is one of the leading autograph authentication services. Consecutive authentication numbers suggest all the items were submitted at once following a large-scale signing.

Athens is up in arms over it- and the HQ isn't just talking about the school.

Yes, the Manziel comparisons will return.
Yes, the Northwestern union discussion will return.
Yes, the O'Bannon case discussion will return.

But, until, and not a moment before the rule makers change their own rules- and only forced to by someone else's hand- because you know the power brokers were only brought into the light kicking and screaming will this change...

And that won't be soon...

PM UPDATE: Looks like the violation may keep Gurley out for the season...

From the AJC and Chip Towers, the news isn't good if you're a Bulldogs fan:

It’s a “significant” case of the sale of memorabilia and there is a possibility that Gurley may not be cleared to return to the field this season.

Other sources familiar with the investigation say a determination of punishment should be made by early next week.

Towers also quotes from the NCAA rule book about how the suspension could play out

NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.1.6 sets specific guidelines for such penalties:
1. Value of the benefit ranges from greater than $100 to $400 = withholding of 10 percent (of games) and repayment;
2. Value of the benefit ranges from greater than $400 to $700 = withholding of 20 percent (of games) and repayment;
3. Value of benefit ranges greater than $700 = withholding of 30 percent (of games) and repayment.

Now, we all get to figure out what the definition of "significant" is as we all move forward...

DEVELOPING: Ray Rice Waived And Suspended After Video Release (UPDATED W/Fan Reax)

((HT: TMZ Sports))

Yeah, okay, it was as bad as we all thought...

After the Sunday Night football game, TMZ Sports released the Ray Rice video and it's pretty graphic...

Ray Rice -- ELEVATOR KNOCKOUT ... Fiancee Takes Crushing Punch [Video]
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The NFL league office claimed that they had not seen the elevator video where Rice had allegedly assaulted his then fiancee, but then it was released. The league wasted no time in suspending him indefinitely after the Ravens waived him.

Simply put by the Ravens on their Twitter:

The Ravens have terminated RB Ray Rice's contract this afternoon.

The Shield followed up with, on their Twitter through spokesman Greg Aiello:

Roger Goodell has announced that based on new video evidence that became available today he has
indefinitely suspended Ray Rice.

A lot of different media sources are calling "shenanigans" that the league didn't know this was what was on the tape. But Jay Glazer had maintained from the beginning that this was the case and, thus, the two-game punishment.

Now, the Ravens will have to retool their offense for an entire season and, possibly, hit the market looking for a tailback that can get quality yards...

CBS Baltimore's Mike Hellgren has fan reaction from the town

Yep, Josh Shaw Made The Story Up...

((HT: KABC-TV/MyFoxLA))

Shaw has been suspended indefinitely from team activities...

"We are extremely disappointed in Josh," said USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian in a statement. "He let us all down. As I have said, nothing in his background led us to doubt him when he told us of his injuries, nor did anything after our initial vetting of his story.

"I appreciate that Josh has now admitted that he lied and has apologized. Although this type of behavior is out of character for Josh, it is unacceptable. Honesty and integrity must be at the center of our program. I believe Josh will learn from this. I hope that he will not be defined by this incident, and that the Trojan Family will accept his apology and support him."

It will be interesting to find out just how long "suspended indefinitely" means in the USC football-sense...

Remember when we had faith in humanity...???
Los Angeles News | FOX 11 LA KTTV

From Bryan D. Fischer, here's the statement from Shaw through his attorney Donald Etra:

“I injured myself in a fall. I made up a story about this fall that was untrue,” Shaw said. “I was wrong to not tell the truth. I apologize to USC for this action on my part.”

"My USC coaches, the USC Athletic Department, and especially coach Sarkisian have all been supportive of me during my college career and for that, I am very grateful."

USC has also apologized for posting the original story on their website. The story had been removed Wednesday from the link where it was originally posted on the USC website.