If case you forgot, Bryant spent some time hanging out with Deion Sanders last spring. That alone is not an NCAA violation—but probably should have been (more on that in a second)—but the NCAA started asking a lot of questions, so naturally Bryant assumed that he was in trouble. He panicked and told the investigators that he hadn't met with Sanders. When asked, Sanders told the truth and said he had. Now Bryant, a junior, is suspended until September of next year, which effectively ends his college career.

That seems a little harsh, doesn't it? Yes, I know lying is bad and examples must be made, but it's not like he was lying to cover up a murder. Or any crime for that matter. He was confused about a set of rules that no one on the planet fully understands and he screwed up. A missed game or two might have sent a better message about the sanctity of amateur athletics, since the end result of this suspension is that Bryant will almost certainly go pro—and probably never finish his degree. Yet, the NCAA acts like they did him a favor by not banning him permanently.

But there is another issue here: Why did he assume that he had violated an NCAA rule? Maybe because meeting with a former NFL player, who is not an alum of your school, to talk about how he can help you prepare for life as a pro athlete doesn't exactly feel like it's on the up and up. Sanders, who is an NFL Network commentator during the season, has built a nice little side business "mentoring" current and future pros on how to survive life in the NFL. That also includes a pre-combine prep school, called "Prime U," that is meant to help players improve their draft standing, but also learn tips on "managing off-the-field lifestyle." Except it's not clear that Deion's advice is really helping anyone.

As a future Hall of Fame cornerback, Sanders probably has some unique insights about the position, but at least four cornerbacks who participated in the camp last spring went undrafted, while only two got picked. One of the actual stars of the camp was Michael Crabtree, who got some spectacularly bad advice from his agent Eugene Parker, who just happened to be the agent of ... Deion Sanders. (Sanders claims that Parker was never present while meeting with Bryant, and that may be true, but that was the main reason for the NCAA's concern about their relationship. Parker has reeled in other clients associated with Prime U—like Ohio's Mark Parson.)

Now Dez Bryant is ruined because he assumed that even talking to Sanders was a bit shady and Sanders failed to properly assure him it wasn't. Deion's intentions may very well be good—and not just a ploy to get his buddy Parker new clients—but that doesn't mean he's doing these players any favors. Nor does it excuse the short-sightedness of the NCAA. But perhaps he should keep his hands off college footballers until they actually are ineligible, instead of just making them that way.

Dez Bryant decision a head-scratcher [USA Today]
Deion Sanders: No rules broken in relationship with Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant [ESPN]
Receiving Deion Sanders' help may have hurt Crabtree, Bryant [Tim Cowlishaw]

Crabtree was picked No. 10 overall by San Francisco this year, but has not signed a contract. The 49ers have offered him what tradition says that a No. 10 pick should make, yet his agent wants more. Way more. However, according to ProFootballTalk, he hasn't even made a counteroffer. So now they're going to sit and stare at each other until someone blinks.

The sticking point seems to be Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. (Isn't it always?) He already signed a contract with the Oakland Raiders for $38 million ($23 guaranteed) and Crabtree wants to make more than that, because he thinks he's a better wideout. That may or may not be true, but Heyward-Bey was picked seventh by the Oakland Raiders and then grossly overpaid. So Crabtree's agent is now holding him out and attempting to "blow up" the prearranged "slotting" system for draft negotiations, simply because Al Davis is insane.

Now David Wells, an "adviser" to Crabtree who is also his cousin, is telling ESPN that Crabtree is ready to sit out the entire 2009 season and re-enter the draft just to prove his point. A point that would ruin Crabtree's entire career. He already missed all of the 49ers offseason workouts with an injury and has missed the first 10 days of camp. He can't go back to school, and when has a year of no football ever improved someone's career? (See: Mike Williams.) A holdout during a rookie season creates a chain reaction of setbacks that most players who attempt it never recover from. If he doesn't get to camp soon, this one big contract will probably be the only one he gets.

Of course, if agent Eugene Parker can somehow get No. 6 money for his No. 10 player, that would destroy the unwritten rules of rookie contracts that keep the NFL from imploding each fall. It would also make Eugene Parker extremely rich, not only now, but especially in future years. Oh, wait! Eugene Parker is already extremely rich! (Some of the rules in place to control rookie salaries are there because of him.) I think Crabtree needs a solid start to his rookie season more than Eugene Parker needs another house.

Source: Parker tells Niners that Crabtree will re-enter draft [PFT]
Adviser: San Francisco 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree ready to sit out, re-enter draft in 2010 [ESPN]
Agent's need for a big payday could be misleading Crabtree [Sacramento Bee, via Yahoo]

The poster claims it has Tellem's BlackBerry and countless numbers, addresses and emails of major professional athletes. Tellem's clients include Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi and Jermaine O'Neal; we think he likes players who aren't injured too, actually.

Actually, it has been a busy week for Tellem; he just quit as SFX Sports Group chairman and sold his company to Wasserman Media Group. You wouldn't think that maybe this whole BlackBerry-on-eBay business might have anything to do with that, would you? Naww .....

Tellem Quits SFX [SportBusiness]

We have sympathy, though, for Walker. Rosenhaus' problem has always been one of overambition. His goal has been less to get his clients more money and more to change the entire pay structure of the NFL, which, as has been well documented, is the least fair to its athletes in all of American professional sport. What Rosenhaus was trying to do for Walker was grab him an extension after his best season in case he ended up injured and unable to play and earn money. And you know what? That's exactly what happened to Walker. Rosenhaus might not have been successful — which is certainly becoming a trend — but it's difficult to blame Walker for what he was trying to do, considering what happened. The real question will be if Terrell Owens drops Rosenhaus in the offseason. If that happens, well, we suggest Rosenhaus strap himself up to an e-meter, consider Scientology and finally go the Jerry Maguire route, full bore.

Rosenhaus Dropped By Walker [Madison.com]

The best part about this is that Rosenhaus appears to have offended the one group of people who would seem unoffendable: agents.

"Some people just lose sight that it's about the client and not about them," Lepselter told the News. "Clearly that's the case here. I thought T.O. was contrite and sincere, albeit 3 to 4 days too late. But his apology was destroyed within 5 minutes by his agent's grandstanding."

A while back, we were hardly alone in suggesting that Rosenhaus might not necessarily be the most upfront guy on Earth. But he now has other agents finding him to be slime. That can't be good.

Agents Knock Drew's T.O. Show [Philly.com]

We were trying to figure out what Rosenhaus was thinking during these interviews. Was he happy? Was he concerned? Was he calculating?

We think we've figured it out. What was Rosenhaus thinking? "I'm on TV. I'm on TV. I'm on TV. I'm on TV. T.O. I'm on TV."

Drew Rosenhaus [Wikipedia]

Letterman: "Are you old enough to remember the days when pro baseball players and pro football players finished their season, and then in the off-season they had jobs selling insurance? What's wrong with that?"

Letterman: "The balloon's getting bigger and bigger; when's it going to end? When is it going to be too much?" (applause).

Rosenhaus: "I go down to the pool. I hear frantic screaming, people crying for help. I see a little boy, drowning. I've been a lifeguard. I was able to give him CPR and save his life. See I'm not the bad guy people make me out to be. He's doing real well now. (To camera, says kid's name) How's it going little buddy?"

Letterman: "Did you get your three percent from the kid?" (Laughter, applause).

Late Show With David Letterman [CBS]

SuperAgent [Spike TV]
LeBron Imitates HBO [Washington Post]