Terrelle Pryor Makes His Pledge But Does He Really Return to Ohio State?

Terrelle Pryor, the Sultan of Sports Goods in Columbus, goes against Arkansas tonight with the rest of the memorabilia moguls who have pledged that they will return to Ohio State next year.

That was the trade-off for the opportunistic lads who saw nothing wrong with selling stuff to the locals around Columbus, you know, jerseys, pants, shoes and in Pryor's case a Big Ten championship ring.

Something tells me he sold the ring too cheap. My neighbor, an Ohio State guy, says he would have paid 10 grand for that little bauble.

Be that as it may, the Buckeyes told Terrelle and his entrepreneurial gang of teammates that they could play in tonight's Sugar Bowl down there in N'awlins as long as they pledged to return to Columbus next season.

So what would happen if Pryor and some of the other members of his sales club decide to go back on their promises? Are you gonna sue 'em?

This all looks so very messy on paper. You have some young guys who didn't consider that selling Ohio State gear for profit on the side just might be bending NCAA rules a tad?

It's all so very, very awkward and no doubt there will be some marvelous signs on display in the Louisiana Super Dome tonight.

Are these kids just the latest in a line of NCAA victims?

Face it, if they really needed some extra cash, there are ways to do it without hauling a bunch of Buckeye gear around downtown Columbus, distributing it to the best offer.

Yes, NCAA regulations can be pretty silly—dumb, in fact.

But so was Pryor, who has been on campus long enough to know better.

He'll play tonight and hopefully he'll do okay. He promised to return next season.

And hopefully he won't need any extra money.