Johnny Manziel’s family hires NCAA-experienced attorney Jim Darnell from El Paso
Johnny Manziel’s family has hired an El Paso, Texas, attorney with experience in NCAA matters as the Heisman Trophy winner reportedly faces an investigation into whether he was paid to sign autographs.
The Manziel family said in a statement Thursday that Jim Darnell would be representing the Texas A&M quarterback.
“I can’t say much,” Darnell told USA TODAY Sports, “other than we’re working through the process. He’s cooperating with the investigation. We think when all this comes out on the other end, he’ll be the starting quarterback for the Aggies against Rice.”
ESPN has reported that Manziel is being examined for allegedly signing autographs for money before last January’s BCS title game between Alabama and Notre Dame. Such a deal would compromise Manziel’s status as an amateur.
The Manziels also say that, in compliance with NCAA regulations, Johnny Manziel and no other member of the family will comment publicly about the investigation.
Darnell says he has no prior relationship with the Manziels. He says he has worked on numerous NCAA cases, most notably representing Baylor when its basketball program was sanctioned in the early 2000s and former Southern California basketball coach Tim Floyd. Floyd now coaches at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Texas A&M confirmed Monday it hired Lightfoot, Franklin & White, the same Birmingham law firm that helped keep Cam Newton eligible in 2010. USA Today reported it did so to protect Manziel’s eligibility as well.
Newton went on to win the Heisman Trophy, and the Tigers won the BCS championship despite allegations Newton’s father had solicited a fee from Mississippi State while Newton was being recruited.
