Johnny Manziel Proof That College Athletes SHOULD Be Paid

The NCAA believes in the ideal of the student athlete, an athlete who competes on behalf of their college or university, with a college education and the promise of a better future as adequate compensation.

Of course, any rational person can tell you that with millions of dollars riding on their every move, a college education is nowhere near adequate compensation for the services of some college athletes.

The most recent example of this is Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. He helped Texas A&M to sell out home games, sell merchandise and make ridiculous amounts of money.

All he got in exchange was a college education.

That is, until Manziel trademarked the nickname birthed for him during last year's season, in which he took the nation by storm by eviscerating the opponents that crossed his path, Johnny Football.

Trademarking the name allows him to sue anyone and everyone who attempts to profit off of the name through the sale of merchandise or other material. And, get this, in the ultimate display of hypocrisy, the NCAA determined that Manziel could keep any money generated in lawsuits over unauthorized use of his likeness.

ESPN's Rick Reilly described the situation and the NCAA's flawed logic best:

We'll throw you in the clink if you take a $3 bagel from a booster, but you can keep lawsuit money, even if it's millions. Have fun!

When Rick Reilly is right about a topic, you know the answer is glaringly obvious.

Essentially, the NCAA's stance is looking like this: we refuse to pay you for your services, but if you can sue someone else to make the money you deserve, then go right ahead!

This of course, is absolute garbage, especially when the NCAA tries trumpeting the ideal of the student athlete that I mentioned above, then tells the student athlete to waste time they could be focusing on school work fighting legal battles to make the money that they deserve for generating their school, conference, NCAA and random people lots and lots of money.

Seems a little hypocritical but, then again, that is nothing new coming from the NCAA.

By the way, you can buy lots of Johnny Manziel stuff that doesn't feature the phrase "Johnny Football" on it at the Texas A&M team shop, none of which Manziel will see one cent from.