SI: 2009 Bama players paid to sign authographs prior to NC win over Texas

[jbcarol]

An investigative piece published by Sports Illustrated on Monday claims that players on Alabama's 2009 national championship team accepted money to sign autographs prior to the team's title game against Texas.

Former Georgia running back Todd Gurley was suspended in 2014 and Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel was briefly suspended in 2013.

[jbcarol]

Ex-Alabama player tells AL.com he never took money for autographs

The former Alabama cornerback was accused in a Sports Illustrated story of taking money for signing autographs in 2009. It alleged he helped recruit other Alabama players to sign items for two memorabilia dealers while accepting $200.

Johnson, now working in sales in Atlanta, was stunned by it all.

"First and foremost," he told AL.com, "I didn't take any money, man."

Johnson also shared a screenshot of a text message exchange he says is with one of the two memorabilia dealers who the report alleges paid Johnson. The response from Adam Bollinger acknowledges Johnson never accepted money. The conversation could not be independently confirmed...

[jbcarol]

According to NCAA rules, the statute of limitations for making allegations covers four years. There are exceptions including " a blatant disregard for certain fundamental rules (recruiting, extra benefits, academics, ethical conduct)," according to the NCAA website. This situation, even if proven true, does not seem to rise to this level.