ESPN followed reports from Sunday and Monday about the Heisman Trophy winner with revelations from an "East Coast autograph broker" who said he had paid Manziel $7,500 in January for signing "approximately 300 mini- and full-sized helmets."
The broker said he met Manziel in New Haven, Conn., during the Aggies quarterback's visit to the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Manziel spent about an hour signing items over three separate sessions, the broker said.
The broker reportedly showed two video clips taken on a cell phone during the autograph sessions, ostensibly for authentication purposes. On the videos, Manziel reportedly tells the broker "you never did a signing with me" and says he would claim to have been approached by multiple autograph seekers if asked about the nature of the memorabilia.
The videos, which ESPN declined to pay for after the broker made an offer, were taken without Manziel's knowledge. They do not show Manziel accepting payment for the sessions.
The latest news follows ESPN's initial report that Manziel was paid a five-figure fee to sign memorabilia for broker Drew Tieman during his trip to the BCS Championship Game. ESPN also reported Monday that Manziel associate Nathan Fitch told a second broker that, after a lengthy free signing session, Manziel would no longer autograph items for the broker free of charge.
Not surprising whatsoever. And if the guys at OSU got 6 games (IIRC) for selling memorabilia, how many games does Manziel get for this?
It's too bad the NCAA is led by a group of jackasses who won't let players sign some **** and the best quarterback in college football will likely be suspended for doing something that should be totally legal. But that's a story for a different time.
