Column: Johnny Football should serve a longer suspension

Two Saturdays ago, Texas A&M played its first game of the college football season against Rice.

Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel was suspended to start the game.
Both the NCAA and Texas A&M agreed that the punishment of only two quarters was acceptable after Manziel was suspended for signing memorabilia.

The NCAA called it an “inadvertent violation” of organization rules. This goes against NCAA rule 12.5.2, which states that players aren’t allowed to autograph commercial items they know might be sold like T-shirts, balls, sweatshirts or posters.

The NCAA couldn’t prove that Manziel actually got any money from his autographs, but various reports have stated that he autographed items for money.

The NCAA spent five hours questioning Manziel to see if he received any money for signing memorabilia.

Both the NCAA and Texas A&M agreed that Manziel should’ve been aware that when signing many autographs at one time, they likely will be sold.

“Student-athletes are often asked for autographs from fans, but unfortunately, some individuals’ sole motivation in seeking an autograph is for resale,” NCAA Vice President of Academic and Membership Affairs Kevin Lennon said in a CBS Sports article.

Players need to be suspended for the full game or just not be suspended at all.
In-game suspensions are probably one of the worst things that sports have.

They might as well call them temporary benchings, because the player will be in the game once the “suspension” is over. 

Manziel probably would’ve played just a little more than a half against Rice.

His back-up most likely would’ve seen similar time on the field if Manziel had not been suspended and been allowed to start the game.

Why wasn’t he suspended for the second half?

What if the game was close at halftime and last year’s Heisman Trophy winner couldn’t play in the third and fourth quarters during crunch time?

Then again, he could’ve been suspended for different quarters, for example the first and third quarters of the game.

There are often huge changes of momentum when a suspended player comes in from the bench. The opposing team has to prepare for just about anything.

As of now, the case of the autographed memorabilia is closed, but if more information comes up, he could be punished more.

Maybe this time he could get suspended for a quarter or a select number of plays.

Texas A&M does deserve credit for suspending players who committed unspecified violations of team’s rules right before kickoff.

Four players, including three defensive starters, were suspended moments before the game kicked off.

Some backups started the game and didn’t look all that prepared as they allowed Rice to easily move the ball down the field, scoring on their first two drives.

The Aggies started the game without eight suspended players, even though two, including Manziel, could play once the second half started.

At least Texas A&M realizes that when violating team rules, no matter how close to the start of the game, the situation needs to be dealt with.

But their suspensions, along with the NCAA, need to be for games at a time.

Not just a half.

Not just a couple of quarters.

That’s far from a meaningful punishment.

It should be for a full game, at least.

­— jayljohn@indiana.edu
Follow national sports columnist Jaylen Johnson on Twitter at @nelyaJohnsonIDS.