On Saturday it was reported that the Indianapolis Colts had hired former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel as a game-day consultant, a move that the Colts apparently made without league approval.
In August is was announced by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that former Ohio State QB would be suspended five games for his involvement in a Ohio State football scandal that saw several Ohio State players trade merchandise for tattoos and other goods. Jim Tressel too was very much involved in this as he didn’t report any of his own findings to Ohio State or the NCAA.
It was announced Monday that the Indianapolis Colts would not have Tressel join the team until the seventh week meaning that he would be suspended for the first six games.
“After the announcement of Coach Jim Tressel’s agreement to join the Colts as a game day consultant, questions were raised with respect to the equity of his appointment as opposed to suspensions being served this season by present and former Ohio State players,” Colts vice chairman Bill Polian said in a statement released by the team.
“Over the weekend Coach Tressel, Mr. Irsay, Coach Caldwell and I had a discussion of the issue,” Polian added. “In addition, we had a conversation with league officials to apprise them of the details of Coach Tressel’s employment and the issues we were reviewing.”
“At Coach Tressel’s suggestion, and with Mr. Irsay’s concurrence and support, we have decided to begin Coach Tressel’s employment effective with our seventh regular season game,” Polian said. “We have informed the league office of our decision and expect that they will be supportive of it.”
With this move it seems apparent that the NFL will now comply with NCAA rules when it comes to players and coaches coming into the league. The big question however that Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com presents is whether or not the NFL will take action against those already employed in the league that committed NCAA violations in the past?
Source: ProFootballTalk.com