The legal battle around the future of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has begun to take shape.
First up is an attempt to reinstate his NCAA eligibility. His lawyers requested an expedited resolution to that process, per Ross Dellinger of Yahoo Sports, seemingly with an expectation of being denied as they have also informed the NCAA of an “imminent” legal challenge.
Then there is Texas Tech, who gave Sorsby a $6MM NIL deal to transfer in from Cincinnati. The school has formed their own legal team to represent their interests (via Dellinger’s colleague, Charles Robinson), which include protecting their investment in Sorsby and getting it back if he is deemed ineligible.
Given the gambling allegations against Sorsby, escaping punishment of some sort seems impossible. But he and Texas Tech could push for a settlement with the NCAA that forces him to take a suspension but leaves him eligible for part of the 2026 season.
If the NCAA will not play ball, then Sorsby and Texas Tech may face off for his NIL money. The 22-year-old will then turn his attention to the NFL, who would have to approve his entrance into the supplemental draft. The league has done so in the past for players dealing with college eligibility issues, but increased scrutiny around their partnership with the gambling industry may require them to take a harder line. Sorsby could then pursue legal action against the NFL from an antitrust angle, a specialty of his lead attorney, Jeffrey Kessler.
Analysis of the situation has frequently referenced former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who lost his college eligibility for accepting money for autographs. The NFL accepted him into the supplemental draft but suspended him for the first five games of his career. The league could treat Sorsby similarly to deliver him some kind of punishment while also permitting him to continue his football career.
The kid screwed up. Now he wants to take everyone to court. How about actions have consequences. How about this kid isn’t owed anything from the NCAA or the NFL. He made his bed. Let him lay in it.
That’s not the way the world works. Actions have consequences, yes, but it’s up to the legal system to determine those consequences, not you.
It is up to the legal system to determine guilt or innocence, and then to impose a proper punishment if guilt is found.
He is 100% guilty, the punishment he has been handed down is more than fair.
The judicial system should not be used to allow guilty people to get off on technicalities or threat of lawsuits and lost money. That is morally wrong, and it is exactly why the judicial is so corrupt and flawed now.
I am all for second chances, but do your time and actually learn from your mistakes. You should not be able to buy your innocence, nor pay your way to get your punishment reduced.
He fully participated in this knowing the consequences. He is a grown man, and now should have to face up and deal with it.
Those who gamble on sports typically are banned from said sport, so even if there is little legal consequence, the NFL can still ban him from playing. To suggest he can only be held accountable by the legal system is inaccurate.
@trace- And if he’s banned from the NFL, any guesses as to his next step? If will absolutely be in the hands of the legal system.
His next step? Get a job and work just like the rest of the adult world. Once his legal issues are resolved and he’s banned from entering the NFL…get a job!
No, his next step will be to sue. Get a clue. The NFL can’t just say “you’re banned” and that’s that. There will be a lawsuit. Very un-American take of you to suggest someone shouldn’t exercise their rights.
He should lose the lawsuit and have to pay back that 6mil to the school in full for being such an idiot.
Lol you ever hear of Ricky Williams. Can tell you are young
His case wasn’t anything to do with gambling. Sorsby should lose his case. Alcohol is a gigantic sponsor of sports and if a player gets in trouble from drinking too much they shouldn’t be able to sue the alcohol company for the mistake they made themselves.
How did being banned for gambling work out for Pete Rose? It should be the exact same with Brendan Sorsby. Permanent ban from college and no other league should sign him either. His career should be out of football now.
“Should” is your opinion as the moral police. That’s the part all of these people with big opinions are missing. Leave it to the judicial system to decide what *should* happen based on the facts and laws. If he’s banned and they uphold that, then that’s what is meant to be. He didn’t break a law, he broke a rule.
Good parallel with Pete Rose. But there is one big difference between now and then.
Hypocrisy. The NFL is deep in bed with the gambling industry. Holding up a cross and starting exorcism procedures for a gambling infraction is hypocritical to say the least.
Very true. Las Vegas didn’t have any franchises in Pete’s career while now they have NHL, NFL, and MLB on the way soon, with an expansion NBA team going there and Seattle when the NBA expands to 32. If Sorsby didn’t have so much pro potential, then I’m sure he’d be used as an example like MPJ’s less talented brother who got a lifetime ban from the NBA for betting and fixing games.
I mean, I agree with you that he did something extremely stupid and he should have to face the consequences for it, but this is also him asking to find out the consequences.
lol. he’s trying to get this to hurry up and get over with so he can skip his punishment from NCAA and go to the supplemental draft. He wants the court to work on his time, not on theirs.
The great thing about the court system is the judge will determine (through legal means) when that time is. So if it’s on Sorsby’s time that’s because its his legal right.
How many people sit in jail waiting for “their day in court” shouldn’t Sorsby wait just like the average Joe vs threatening to sue because the judicial system grinds slow?
The NCAA is not as busy as our court system.
Your “point” was actually counterproductive to the one you’re trying to make. Americans have rights and he’s exercising his rights. You’re asking him to release those rights because others are unfairly treated. How about ask for the judicial system to operate better instead?
Hes literally trying to face the consequences by asking to be told the consequences but ok bro you tell em
The Kid did not screw up!! He got $6 million in NIL money lol That’s far from screwing up
He screwed up before he got that money and now he might not get that money.
The balls on this guy
Dudes gonna be a CFL legend
Wanna bet?
That’s funny 😂 he’s going to be working at Walmart
Hmm, imagine things getting sticky due to gambling.
Just my position but I think any sports league that aligns itself with gambling enterprises then bans employees from participating in wagers ought clean its own closet before punishing players.
Yes players are employees!
Then again I don’t give money to gambling on sports…..odds suck
They won’t punish players. Isn’t the NFL and even CFB have an alliance with Draft Kings or Fan Duel?
LOL. Tech has one of the wealthiest
Art Schlichster had kids? Sure does sound like his MO. Million dollar arms and ten cent brains. But seriously, if he bet on the teams he was playing on he needs a lifetime ban. Talk about having inside information and/or being able to manipulate scores. The NFL/NCAA need to start a HALL of STUPIDITY that these athletes can visit to view all the has beens and never wheres who screwed themselves and their families out of million dollar opportunities because they were dopers, drinkers, gamblers and degenerates with no self control A Scared Straight for elite athletes, sometimes the only way it works is to see it with your own eyes.
@myaccount2 this kid is a creep he fixes games people lose there money and that’s ok with you. Did they give Pete rose a second chance no. But if ur a druggy they give them multiple chances like strawberry, good en, how about pitcher Howe what 5 chances. My account why don’t u go to bed with him