Aaron Murray on NIL: Imagine how different it would have gone with Green and Gurley

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Georgia fans will recall that Aaron Murray had a routine while he was playing for the Bulldogs. He took the offensive linemen to Ben & Jerry’s for ice cream every week. If they happened to keep him upright without a sack on a particular week during the season, then they might go out for steak or seafood.

Always, Murray picked up the tab.

That would’ve been considerably less of a financial burden on Murray in college had he been able to take advantage of his name, image and likeness the way JT Daniels and college football players can in 2021.

Murray actually got a taste of NIL his senior season. He tore his ACL against Kentucky in the next-to-last game of the 2013 regular season. That meant that he’d miss the season finale against Georgia Tech and the Bulldogs’ appearance in the Gator Bowl.

At $35 an autograph and a $100 or so per camp participant, Murray grossed well over $100,000 in the four months preceding the 2014 NFL draft.

“Yeah, drinks were on me after that,” Murray quipped.

Had NIL rights been around during Murray’s collegiate career, the four-year starter and all-time passing record holder surely would’ve banked many more thousands of dollars.

“I’m sitting on the sidelines and daydreaming about the amount of money I could have made,” Murray said with a laugh. “It would’ve been up there; it would’ve been sweet.”

Wide receiver A.J. Green was suspended for the first four games in 2010 for selling his 2009 Independence Bowl letterman’s jacket online for $1,000. Likewise, running back Todd Gurley was suspended for four games by the NCAA in 2014 for signing merchandise for some sports memorabilia dealers for $3,000.

“I saw both those guys get popped,” Murray said. “Imagine how different those years would have gone if we had those guys.”

Georgia went 6-7 in 2010, losing four of the first five games, and 10-3 in 2014. The Bulldogs were 3-1 while Gurley was sidelined, losing to Florida 38-20 in Jacksonville.

As for the current landscape, Murray said “it’s a little crazy right now, a little nuts,” as both companies and players are jumping at opportunities. He expects deals like the south Florida gym that promised $6,000 for every Miami football player will soon disappear.

“I think all of that is going to die away,” Murray said. “Everybody’s trying to jump on it right now because it’s hot, but I think the fad will fade and next year it will be mostly quarterbacks and running backs and the big-time skill-position guys.”

“I’m sure the coaches are preaching to these kids that it’s not going to be fair for everyone,” Murray said. “But, look, these kids aren’t stupid. They watch the NFL. Who do you see on commercials? You see quarterbacks, receivers, running backs. You don’t see offensive linemen doing commercials. You rarely see defensive linemen besides Aaron Donald and J.J. Watt. It’s Tom Brady, it’s Aaron Rodgers, it’s Patrick Mahomes, it’s guys like that making all the deals.

“These guys can see that the quarterback is getting deals and say, ‘well, if I want some deals, I’ve got to ball out. I’ve got to go make some plays,’” Murray said. “If you want recognition, then you better be a run-stuffer or get to the quarterback or whatever you do. Then you’ll get some deals. Same with offensive linemen. Go make some pancakes. You might not get the same amount of deals but if you work hard and make a name for yourself on the field, there will be deals out there for them.”

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