Multiple sources say ‘Uncle Nate’ ran Johnny Manziel autograph business
By Josh Sanchez
The Johnny Manziel autograph scandal continues to get more interesting by the day. With the NCAA continuing to dig in to whether or not Manziel received money for autographs from brokers and multiple brokers coming forward with stories and videos of their own Manziel interactions, there is one man in the shadows that could be behind it all.
Enter Manziel’s high school friend, personal assistant, media coordinator and business manager — Nate Fitch or “Uncle Nate” as he’s been nicknamed by Manziel.
According to the most recent piece by ESPN’s Wright Thompson, at least half a dozen sources are saying that Uncle Nate was the man behind the Manziel autograph business.
"A half dozen sources and counting have said that, among other things, Fitch helped run a Manziel autograph business, setting up signings, handling logistics. He’s the unknown hole at the center of a famous person’s scandal, both caught up in events and a driver of those events, a participant in a cultural tug-of-war: Will he join Manziel in the spotlight or will he slip back into the shadows?“When Sports Illustrated does ‘The Rise and Fall of Johnny Manziel,’ Johnny is not going to be on the cover,” one autograph broker told ESPN. “Nate will be.”"
Manziel’s family has reportedly always been wary of Fitch, who they fear could be looking to capitalize on their son’s name, but the concern has grown especially louder now that Manziel is at the center of the autograph controversy.
Fitch has not been heard from, but with all of the sources saying he was a significant part of the autograph business, you have to imagine the NCAA will come calling to see what he knows.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Manziel – Fitch relationship, but it looks like Uncle Nate really may have been the mastermind behind what could eventually be the end of Johnny Football’s playing career at College Station.