LSU’s Burrow: OBJ’s cash was the real thing

School is now scrambling after first saying it was novelty bills

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU has contacted officials from the NCAA and Southeastern Conference about Cleveland Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s apparent cash payments to Tigers players on the field after the national championship game, a university spokesman said.

LSU athletics spokesman Michael Bonnette said initial information suggested that Beckham handed out “novelty bills” to players after the topranked Tigers defeated Clemson on Monday night. However, further investigation showed that Beckham may have given away real money.

“Information and footage reviewed since shows apparent cash may have also been given to LSU student-athletes,” Bonnette said in a statement. “We were in contact with the NCAA and the SEC immediately upon learning of this situation in which some of our student-athletes may have been placed in a compromising position. We are working with our student-athletes, the NCAA and the SEC in order to rectify the situation.”

Beckham starred for LSU from 2011 to 2013 and was a first-round draft pick by the New York Giants. He was traded to Cleveland before last season.

Videos posted on social media showed Beckham placing money in the hand of LSU receiver Justin Jefferson and celebrating with players in LSU’s locker room in the Superdome. Jefferson, who just completed his junior season, is eligible to turn pro and enter this spring’s NFL draft.

LSU graduate transfer quarterback Joe Burrow, who has exhausted his college eligibility and is expected to be a top NFL draft choice this year, said on a Barstool Sports podcast that it appeared to him Beckham was handing out actual cash.

The NCAA does not allow players to receive cash benefits while playing college football. Those rules are designed to prevent institutions from luring talent through the promise of direct or indirect payments.

MISSOURI STATE: Bobby Petrino, 58, a coach with a track record of on-the-field success and offthe-field embarrassments, will be introduced as the school’s next coach Thursday. He will replace Dave Steckel, who was fired last week after winning just 13 games in five seasons.

Petrino has a 119-56 record in 14 seasons at Arkansas, Western Kentucky and Louisville. He also spent part of one season coaching the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, where he coached 13 games in 2007 before abruptly resigning by letter to the team.

BOISE STATE: Eric Kiesau was promoted on Wednesday to offensive coordinator. He replaces Zak Hill, who left after the season to take the offensive coordinator role at Arizona State.

CLEMSON: Tee Higgins, the Tigers’ leading receiver in yards and touchdowns, is forgoing his final college season to enter the NFL draft.