Johnny Manziel’s 462 yards this past Saturday in Texas A&M’s win over Sam Houston State University proved the 20-year-old remains undaunted in spite of mounting criticism, as many fans and critics draft their “Dear Johnny” letters renouncing their support.

For “Johnny Football,” it all started on Halloween night 2012. The redshirt freshman arrived at College Station’s famed Northgate dressed as Scooby Doo, ready for a good time. The Instagram pictures of him with a multitude of young ladies kicked off a social media frenzy that is the narrative of Johnny Football’s continuing mishaps. From courtside NBA seats, to University of Texas frat parties, Manziel has more than proved that he is satisfied with acting his age—that is, until he’s on the football field.

Last season, Manziel was unstoppable. Coach Kevin Sumlin took a risk by starting the young redshirt freshman, but it paid huge dividends as the Aggies won 11 games and Johnny became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. In spite of Johnny’s many achievements, the skepticism surrounding him grows.

At Texas A&M’s bookstore, a replica No. 2 jersey sells for about $60. Last year the university sold out of all 2,500 jerseys. The 12th Man foundation (A&M’s football booster club) auctioned off a dinner with Manziel for $20,000. Furthermore, head coach Kevin Sumlin received a $1.1 million raise and an extra $700,000 went to the rest of the coaching staff to share. That is $1,970,000 worth of pure talent that Johnny will never see. On the surface, it is easy to overlook the NCAA’s light punishment for Manziel allegedly receiving $10,000 for a few autographs.

Being punished for writing your own name does seem outlandish, but half of one game in a season is miniscule when compared to the harsh treatment for other NCAA offenders. In 2004, Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith was suspended for two games for accepting $500 from a Buckeye Booster. University of Georgia wide receiver AJ Green was suspended for four games in 2010 for selling his own jersey for a measly $1,000. Perhaps the worst was in 2009 when Dez Bryant of Oklahoma State was suspended for ten games after former NFL player Deion Sanders invited him into his home for dinner.

Few doubt that Manziel’s light punishment was not partly decided by the NCAA’s greed. Johnny’s talent is as lucrative as his family’s Texas oil wells. As far as free press goes, he is the gift that keeps on giving. One of the first college heroes of the social media age, his Instagram and Twitter accounts do no more than show that he is not a god but a pretty normal 20-year-old with plenty mistakes left to make.

For now, Manziel is playing it cool in response to the hype of the Alabama rematch taking place at Kyle Field this Saturday. It’s bound to be a great game, and you can take that to the bank. The NCAA certainly will.