By The Associated Press
Johnny Manziel’s family has hired an El Paso, Texas, attorney with experience in NCAA matters as the Heisman Trophy winner reportedly faces an investigation into whether he was paid to sign autographs.
The Manziel family said in a statement Thursday that Jim Darnell would be representing the Texas A&M quarterback.
ESPN has reported that Manziel is being examined for allegedly signing autographs for money before last January’s BCS title game between Alabama and Notre Dame. Such a deal would compromise Manziel’s status as an amateur.
The Manziels also say that, in compliance with NCAA regulations, Johnny Manziel and no other member of the family will comment publicly about the investigation.
Darnell says he has no prior relationship with the Manziels. He says he has worked on numerous NCAA cases, most notably representing Baylor when its basketball program was sanctioned in the early 2000s and former Southern California basketball coach Tim Floyd.