Bryan Allen, Todd Gurley’s memorabilia dealer, tells his story

ATHENS (TNS) — Bryan Allen has told his sleazy story to ESPN.com and Sports Illustrated.

The Northwest Georgia sports memorabilia dealer who brought down Georgia star tailback Todd Gurley shared details with reporters from those two media outlets recently. Allen admitted to being in a car with Gurley last March and videotaping the proceedings as Gurley signed dozens of items for him and fellow memorabilia dealer Shane Smith for $400. The cash transaction took place in the parking lot of Gurley’s apartment complex last March.

Allen claims he never intended to bring any hard to Gurley or the University of Georgia. Nevertheless, Allen’s attempts to leak the story to media for money, then turning over his information to UGA’s compliance officers resulted in Gurley getting suspended for four games for accepting improper benefits as an NCAA athlete.

“I never wanted to screw over Gurley,” said Allen in Brett McMurphy’s story on ESPN.com. “I never wanted to screw over their fans or anything like that. That was never my intention. I wish I had never even gone down there. It’s not worth it.”

Both Allen and Smith have declined interview requests from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Allen paints Smith as the chief conspirator in the scheme sell Gurley-signed merchandise on eBay in memorabilia stories. He claims Smith had an arrangement with Gurley going back to his freshman season in 2012. Gurley would sign footballs, helmets, jerseys and 8