Violation Of Hood Protocol

"Witness Protection"

One of the first rules of survival that is taught in the ghetto is to mind your own business. If it doesn't have anything to do with you stay out of it. The moment you get involved in something that doesn't pertain to you, you put bull’s-eye on your back. That rule is taught even before you enter kindergarten. My mother laid that one out to me real easy like, "Mind your own business because tattling will get you hurt and know body wants to be around a tattle tale". That was the clean version of the rule!

So if that's the first rule of survival why would Terrelle Pryor's former friend go to ESPN's "Outside the Lines" and tell them that his boy made thousands of dollars autographing memorabilia in 2009-10. He said that it occurred a minimum of 35 to 40 times, netting Pryor anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 that year, which is a violation of NCAA rules.

The source spoke to ESPN under the condition that his face not be aired on TV and that his name not be published. Why of course! However, everybody on campus and anyone affiliated with Pryor knows exactly who the guy is. That was real smart. Now he's just ruined his life and will probably have to transfer schools as well if he's even in school. We call that going into witness protection.

People that didn't grow up in the hood don't understand that rule and thinks that it doesn't make sense. So let me break it down for you. People see things that are illegal everyday. However, they have to live there regardless of the crimes committed around them. So if you get involved the authorities can't and won't protect you from the very group of individuals that may be guilty of the crime. Even if the guy gets caught and put in jail he has family and friends that will come looking for you and your family.

So if you can't move your entire family out of harms way, you keep your mouth closed. The NCAA and Ohio State had already opened Pandora’s box and was bound to find all the bones of this tragic situation any way. Why put your self in harms way for a couple of bucks and you didn't even get famous because you had to hide your face?

No way that kid can go to class today! He's probably already gotten "ran up on" and had to packed his bags for telling something that had absolutely nothing to do with him.

I've said from the beginning that his first mistake was going to Ohio State! I wrote an article back in January entitled “Terrelle Pryor’s Biggest Mistake” about how he should have done to Michigan because the spread offense was made for his skill set. Going to Ohio State didn't prepare him any better and didn't increase his draft status.

Playing for Michigan under Rich Rodriguez wouldn't have prepared him to play quarterback in the NFL either. However, he would have put up big numbers and possibly have won the Heisman trophy and therefore commanded a first round draft slot just like Tim Tebow who‘s clearly not an NFL quarterback. However, the big numbers got him drafted in the first round. The 1st rule of the Hustler's handbook is to sign the contract before they realize you can't play. JaMarcus Russell was the first pick in the 2007 NFL Draft and couldn't play a lick because he was lazy. He signed a contract worth $61 million with $32 million guaranteed. Being ready to play in the NFL isn't important but being ready to get paid in the NFL is.

The tragedy of it all is that Pryor got pimped as I talked about in Straight Pimpin’ and got nothing out of the deal. He's leaving school without a degree to pursue a pro career where? Even if he'd gotten drafted a couple months ago at best he would have been a 3rd round pick. That draft position pays nothing in the grand scheme of NFL contracts and long term living. As a free agent he gets no guarantee's at all. It's starting to look like Marcus Dupree or Maurice Clarett all over again. Sad situation to have the rare genetics that only come around every 20 years or so and not be able to take advantage of them.

Holla At Ya Boy!

Jay Graves
Follow me on Twitter: @jaygravesreport