The attorney for suspended Ohio State wide...

The attorney for suspended Ohio State wide receiver Cris Carter said at least half of the top college football players take money, violating National Collegiate Athletic Assn. rules.

Carter, the all-time leading receiver at Ohio State, was declared permanently ineligible Wednesday by Athletic Director Rick Bay. Carter admitted to Bay that he had signed a contract and a $5,000 promissory note on May 1, 1986, and had received $150 monthly payments from Lloyd Bloom of World Sports & Entertainment, Inc.

“It’s not so much the players receiving the money as much as it is the people who are willing to pay them the money,” said Robert Berry, a Boston College law professor who represents Carter.

“So the good agents, who try to play it square, they are at a competitive disadvantage. I guess, in a way, it’s amazing how many players are straight.”

Berry added: “I think of your top players, a good 50% have received some type of payments.”

The NCAA, meanwhile, said it would take no action against Ohio State regarding possible forfeiture of games in which Carter played since the school did not know of the player’s actions and has since taken appropriate action by declaring the player ineligible.