Well, queue up the next round of absurd lawsuits guaranteed to ruin college sports!

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
19,572
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Detroit Lions WR, Jameson Williams, who is currently signed to an $83 million contract, has filed lawsuit against the NCAA, SEC and Big 10 "seeking reimbursement for the potential financial value that he would’ve received if the NCAA allowed him to monetize his NIL throughout his collegiate career." He finished his college career in 2021 before the NIL ruling came down that summer. So he wants to get the money he WOULD have earned if NIL had been in place during his career. The lawsuit also alleges the above entities have continued to profit off of his NIL after he left college. I don't know about the merit of the latter, but the former is absurd.

IF he wins this lawsuit and is allowed to collect NIL retroactively, it will be the Tsar Bomba for college athletics. Keep in mind, he's playing on an $83 million contract...$66.5 million guaranteed...and he still wants to retroactively collect NIL. How many former successful college athletes who didn't make it in the pros are going to want to sue to collect the same? It will be like swarming cockroaches.

I really don't see HOW he can win. The rules changed after his career was over. But that only means he probably will win.

 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
19,572
16,441
113
Ridiculous and frivolous lawsuit that some attorneys are know to roll the dice on. 💰
The only way to stop it is to make the filer pay the costs/penalties if they get thrown out.
It seems absurd on the face of it, but it's not unthinkable that he will actually win, is it?
 

Piscis

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2001
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I wonder who he is suing for NIL money? Who will be responsible for not paying him? The schools and athletic associations do not pay any NIL money and there were no NIL collectives when he played.

On some level, I'd like for him to win. It might be the thing that blows up the whole system.
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
19,572
16,441
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I wonder who he is suing for NIL money? Who will be responsible for not paying him? The schools and athletic associations do not pay any NIL money and there were no NIL collectives when he played.

On some level, I'd like for him to win. It might be the thing that blows up the whole system.
It's a good question.

As patently absurd as it is, I agree that I might actually like to see him win. If he wins, there will be an avalanche of similar lawsuits. It would thoroughly dismantle the current system.
 

Lurker123

All-American
May 4, 2020
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I wonder who he is suing for NIL money? Who will be responsible for not paying him? The schools and athletic associations do not pay any NIL money and there were no NIL collectives when he played.

On some level, I'd like for him to win. It might be the thing that blows up the whole system.

My thoughts exactly. Sue the collectives for not paying him when they didn't exist? Sue the schools for not paying him while they weren't allowed.

I suppose the NCAA could be a target, because they were "unfairly" keeping his NIL money from him. But it wasnt ruled on till after he left.

On its face, it should be dismissed.

But part of me likes the idea of this being the bomb that blows up the system.
 
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18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
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"Lead" Zeppelin. He won't win this.

He shouldn't, but I've seen too much stupid crap to say he won't. As others have said above, part of me actually wants to see him win b/c it would destroy college athletics.
 

KingWard

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Feb 15, 2022
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He shouldn't, but I've seen too much stupid crap to say he won't. As others have said above, part of me actually wants to see him win b/c it would destroy college athletics.
In the fullness of judicial review, this won't stand. Let's see how much of his own money he's willing to sink into it.
 

18IsTheMan

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In the fullness of judicial review, this won't stand. Let's see how much of his own money he's willing to sink into it.
Well, money shouldn't be a problem for him. He's got $67 million guaranteed on his contract. But you're probably right, unfortunately. As the posts above mention, who is he expecting to pay him? The SEC and Big 10 didn't have NIL b/c it wasn't allowed. Collectives didn't even exist at the time, so you can't sue an entity that didn't exist. That leaves the NCAA.

Nevertheless, I did read one article yesterday which seemed to indicate there was precedent for such a case when it was determined there was an antitrust violation. But it doesn't solve the problem of where the money he wants is going to come from.
 

PrestonyteParrot

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May 28, 2024
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Isn't this just a progression of a long line of professions where you can get rich for doing nothing and the youth have learned from example.
After watching CEO's and Coaches receive huge payouts the youth have taken notice of the paths available to easy money and those who ''mentor'' them have created income streams for themselves as well.
 
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KingWard

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Well, money shouldn't be a problem for him. He's got $67 million guaranteed on his contract. But you're probably right, unfortunately. As the posts above mention, who is he expecting to pay him? The SEC and Big 10 didn't have NIL b/c it wasn't allowed. Collectives didn't even exist at the time, so you can't sue an entity that didn't exist. That leaves the NCAA.

Nevertheless, I did read one article yesterday which seemed to indicate there was precedent for such a case when it was determined there was an antitrust violation. But it doesn't solve the problem of where the money he wants is going to come from.
He's not going to get paid. Rules and laws get changed all the time without anyone being owed anything retroactively. It's like a kid coming along and expecting a government tax rebate check that was paid out before he ever was of age, let alone a taxpayer.
 

Tngamecock

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Sep 10, 2000
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I wonder who he is suing for NIL money? Who will be responsible for not paying him? The schools and athletic associations do not pay any NIL money and there were no NIL collectives when he played.

On some level, I'd like for him to win. It might be the thing that blows up the whole system.
It won’t blow up the system…. It will just increase ticket prices and student fees. Reparations for former players…lol
 
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Piscis

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It won’t blow up the system…. It will just increase ticket prices and student fees. Reparations for former players…lol
Once the precedent was established and hundreds or thousands of former players filed lawsuits, it would definitely blow up the system.
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
19,572
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He's not going to get paid. Rules and laws get changed all the time without anyone being owed anything retroactively. It's like a kid coming along and expecting a government tax rebate check that was paid out before he ever was of age, let alone a taxpayer.
I tend to agree, except that it's been a very rare thing for anyone to say "no" to these guys lately.

I think any level-minded judge would see the absurdity of it. It would open up the floodgates for tens of thousands of former college athletes to get paid.