and is discussing letting players profit from their name.

Of course they aren't discussing 'paying' players but I suppose it's a start. I wonder if the NBA removing the age limit in a few yrs and increasing G-league salaries provoked this.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/26757786/paying-players-video-games-next-ncaa-image-likeness-debate

The NCAA made a potentially game-changing announcement on Tuesday, appointing a working group to examine issues related to student-athletes using their name, image and likeness. Member representatives from all three NCAA divisions will comprise the working group, co-chaired by Big East commissioner Val Ackerman and Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith.

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What is name, image and likeness?
As it stands now, a student athlete's photograph, name, autograph, jersey or personal identity can be used by a university and the NCAA for advertising or commercially without allowing the athlete to gain anything monetarily.

The athletes are not allowed to profit off their own brand or level of celebrity. That means athletes can't receive payment for their autograph, they don't receive payment for showing up in promotional and marketing assets designed to promote the university or NCAA and they are unable to receive any money from jersey sales associated with their respective numbers.

The working group will now discuss the potential for a student athlete to own the rights to his or her own name, image and brand among other aspects, potentially allowing a student athlete to gain monetarily off of their own status.

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