Johnny Manziel happy about NIL changes, athletes' new money-making opportunities

Johnny Manziel acknowledged last month in an interview with Barstool Sports that he made thousands of dollars for covertly autographing items just weeks after he won the Heisman Trophy with Texas A&M.

That would have been a big no-no had it been substantiated back then. Now a combination of recently enacted state laws and the NCAA's standing down allows college athletes to make money from their name, image and likeness — getting paid to sign autographs being just one example.