Last week, there was plenty of discussion regarding the hypothetical possibility that quarterback Terrelle Pryor will leave Ohio State, given the forced resignation of coach Jim Tressel.
The “hypothetical” can now be removed.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, Pryor is indeed leaving Ohio State. The next question becomes where he’ll go next.
In theory, he could transfer to an FCS-level school and play right away, dominating Randy Moss-style before heading to the NFL. But if the NCAA will continue to cram a microscope into an area of Pryor’s body where microscopes don’t naturally go, Pryor may decide to play pro football.
With the lockout still in place, the question becomes whether he’ll try to enter the supplemental draft, and whether there can even be a supplemental draft. The NFL believes that the expired labor deal permits a supplemental draft, we don’t, and the NFLPA* has yet to take a position on the subject.
With the NFL arguably no longer shielded from antitrust liability, Pryor also could pull a Maurice Clarett and file a lawsuit challenging the draft.
This one can go a lot of different ways. Regardless of how it turns out, it puts the NFL in a potentially awkward position.