Senior Bowl: UNC's Burney to address agent scandal

By JOSEPH PERSON
Staff Writer

MOBILE, Ala. – Kendric Burney knows the questions are coming.

When the North Carolina cornerback sits down with NFL teams this week during Senior Bowl activities, Burney will be prepared to discuss the events that led to his six-game suspension this past season for accepting improper agent-related benefits.

“Everybody kind of knows what went on now. So now they're going to hear our side of the story and everything will work out for the good,” Burney said Sunday.

“I'll tell my story. Some will believe it, some might not. But I believe that me telling the truth and getting it off my shoulders will set me free for the rest of my career.”

Burney took trips last offseason to Atlanta and Las Vegas with former UNC player Chris Hawkins, whom the NCAA viewed as an agent. The NCAA ruled that Burney received $1,333 in benefits on the trips last offseason, as well as an earlier trip to California.

Burney, one of 13 players who missed the season opener because of agent- and academic-related investigations, was ordered to repay $575.19 to charity. He was held out of another game because of an academic issue.

“We definitely didn't do the right things that we needed to do. Maybe we shouldn't have went on certain trips,” Burney said. “But I don't feel like we did anything wrong.”

Tar Heels safety Da'Norris Searcy, North Carolina's other player in Mobile, was held out for three games.

Burney, who had two interceptions and two pass breakups in six games after returning, said he holds no ill will toward UNC coach Butch Davis or his staff.

“At the end of the day, we're upset that we didn't get to come back and do what we wanted to do as a team,” Burney said. “But we're happy that everybody is still going to get the chance to play football.”