Pryor won’t appeal supplemental draft restrictions

Published 11:26 pm Saturday, August 20, 2011

The Associated Press

GREENSBURG, Pa. — Terrelle Pryor worked out for 17 NFL teams Saturday and said afterward he wouldn’t appeal his five-week suspension at the start of the NFL season.

With the former Ohio State quarterback trying to prove he should be taken in Monday’s supplemental draft, spectators included Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and director of football operations Kevin Colbert and Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay.

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Pryor, appearing in top shape, worked out at a high school stadium near his hometown of Jeannette, Pa. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds and threw an array of passes.

“I would like the opportunity to play quarterback,” he said, “but I’ll do anything that a team needs me to do to win.”

Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel also made an appearance, supporting his former star player after resigning under pressure amid an NCAA investigation that Pryor and others improperly sold memorabilia.

Pryor left school for the NFL after Tressel’s departure.

“Did great,” Tressel said of the 6-foot-5, 232-pound Pryor. “He would help lots of teams.”

The NFL allowed Pryor into the draft Thursday with the caveat that he wouldn’t be allowed to practice for the team that selected him until Week 6. The quarterback would have faced a five-game suspension had he stayed at Ohio State.

Pryor’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told The Associated Press on Thursday that “we accept that voluntarily.” But the player’s attorney, David Cornwell, told ESPN Radio on Friday that it was “likely” the five-game punishment would be appealed once Pryor signed an NFL contract.

Pryor said Saturday there would be no appeal. He also said he would sign with any team that picked him in the supplemental draft instead of trying his chances again in the regular draft in the spring.