Suspensions at Ohio State

I know this will come off as a "homer" post,but I disagree with the decision of the NCAA to suspend five Ohio State Buckeyes for the first five games next season.
I do believe the suspension appeal will likely knock the missed games down a few,but it still could cost the Buckeyes any or all of these three affected players in quarterback Terrelle Pryor,running back Boom Herron and wide receiver DeVier Posey.
All three might say that they don't want to miss games and start getting paid for their abilities,but I think all three might be disappointed in a NFL jump.
Between the labor unrest in the league and the fact that none of the three are truly ready to hit the pros,they likely would not be drafted as highly as they think.
Pryor would rank 5th at best among quarterbacks and likely lower than that,Herron would be a late rounder and Posey would be in the middle of the draft,so they would likely benefit more (especially Posey and Pryor) by accepting their medicine and boosting their draft standing for 2012.

The players broke the rules and I don't have a problem with disciplining them for the violation.
My question is this-why was this against the rules?
The players earned the rings and awards that they sold,so why shouldn't they do what they want with them?
Any other college student can sell what they want for needed funds,why not the players?
If Ryan needs some extra money to get through a semester and needs to tap into his baseball card collection or move some comic books to make ends meet,why shouldn't Terrelle Pryor be able to sell his rings?
I am not saying that a violation was not committed,but questioning why a violation is a violation.
The NCAA comes so poorly here with suspensions of players for selling their own items,yet keeping a Cam Newton eligible for his father soliciting offers for his son to play for the highest bidder.
(An aside on Cam Newton,the clock is ticking on this-I place the over/under on the Heisman vacancy for Newton at two years).
The corrupt NCAA also shows its dirty hands in allowing the players to play in the Sugar Bowl as the suspensions should be immediate if this is such a big deal.
The NCAA knows that the ratings will plunge for the game,if the game is a blowout and that simply cannot be allowed.

The biggest violation to me is to the tradition of Ohio State.
Selling the gold pants that you only obtain with wins over michigan or swapping them for tattoos shows me the lack of regard for the traditions of Buckeye football and the lack of respect for the players of the past that worked so hard for them.
One reaps what one sows in collegiate sports as if you put a price value on everything,that means everything.
Maybe it is time for a simpler time in college sports....

My apologies for this being late as this was finished yesterday,but internet issues did not allow a post until today...