Attorney Seeks Contempt Ruling Over NCAA After Conference Bans on NFL-Signed Players
A lawyer representing players challenging conference bans plans to ask a court to hold the NCAA in contempt for allowing the Big Ten and SEC to restrict athletes who have signed NFL contracts.
An attorney for former college athletes who have signed National Football League contracts is preparing to request a contempt of court ruling against the NCAA. The move follows recent decisions by the Big Ten and SEC to prohibit such players from competing for member schools, a policy that may conflict with a prior injunction allowing athletes like former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright to join LSU.
Ryan Downton, one of the lawyers who secured the injunction, said the legal team will seek a contempt order "for permitting conferences under its purview to blatantly violate court orders." He added that the group is evaluating "the appropriate legal response to hold the Big Ten and SEC accountable for their coordination with the NCAA."
The conferences' actions are viewed by some observers as an effort to influence legislative action on the Protect College Sports Act, a proposal aimed at reforming governance of college athletics.