Ex-NFL players once LSU bound plan legal action vs. SEC
nola.com • • sports
Key Points:
- The SEC threatened to expel LSU from the conference in a federal lawsuit if the school continued to violate conference bylaws banning former NFL, NBA, and WNBA players from returning to college sports rosters.
- LSU declined to roster former pro players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavaian Harris after the SEC amended its lawsuit to include possible expulsion, despite a court injunction allowing the athletes a fifth year of eligibility.
- The players’ attorney, Clayton, plans legal action against the SEC, NCAA, and commissioner Greg Sankey, accusing the conference of devaluing the players’ worth and unfairly targeting them.
- LSU coach Lane Kiffin supported the players but denied orchestrating their return; legal experts view the SEC’s lawsuit as largely symbolic and unlikely to result in LSU’s expulsion.
- The SEC’s legal argument centers on First Amendment freedom of association, claiming the right to exclude LSU for defying conference rules, though critics question the validity and motivation behind the lawsuit.
