Johnny Manziel Autograph Investigation UPDATE: How the Texas A&M QB Could be Ineligible Without Proof of Payment
ByAnother autograph dealer has come forward, this time not anonymously, with details about signing sessions with Johnny Manziel, ESPN reported.
The autograph dealer, Kevin Freistat, is based in Florida and has exclusive deals with Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez and Chipper Jones. He said Manziel signed items for him KLF Sports company in early January in south Florida and late January in Houston.
Freistat told ESPN's "Outside the Lines" (OTL) about two more signing sessions in which the Heisman-winning quarterback of Texas A&M signed 1,500 items on each occasion. Even in the newest allegations, there has not been any evidence to suggest Manziel accepted payment for his autographs.
The NCAA is still investigating as to whether or not the Aggies' QB has ever accepted payment for his autographs, a violation that could rule him ineligible to play this year and possibly longer. What is more stunning than the allegations is the sheer volume of items with Manziel's signature on them.
Combined with the four previous signing sessions brought forward to OTL, Manziel has written his autograph estimated total of 4,400 times for brokers in three states in less than a month.
Drew Tieman, the only other named source in Joe Schad and ESPN's ongoing coverage of the story, said Manziel singed about 1,000 items over two days during the BCS National Championship. Two other anonymous brokers based in New England, said Manziel was paid a flat fee of $7,500 for 300 signatures that same week.
On no occasions did any source, anonymous or identified, state they had witnessed Manziel accept payment for the sessions.
Experts said Manziel's numerous signing sessions and the high volume of items in a short period of time suggest he does not sign autographs like most college athletes do.
Sean Morgan, owner of Famous Ink, a sports marketing and memorabilia company, said he avoids dealing with college athletes.
"With college guys, you'll often see different color pens, varying penmanship, autographs signed in different places on a photo," he said. "With Johnny, it's all the same."
The NCAA can rule a player ineligible even without proof the player handled any money. Under a certain bylaw, student-athletes are required to make every effort possible to prevent items bearing their likeness, name or image from being sold.