WASHINGTON – If Tim Tebow’s No. 15 jersey is flying off the shelves in Florida, shouldn’t the Gators’ quarterback be getting a cut? Or if Sam Bradford’s big day on the field piles up tons of points in a for-profit online fantasy game, shouldn’t the Oklahoma QB receive some of the reward?

The well-worn debate over exploitation of college athletes had a different vibe Monday at a regular meeting of the reform-minded Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. Before it was over, Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti had banged his fist on the table in ire at the NCAA, and several people had suggested creative ways to pay athletes.

“The student-athlete has been given a scholarship and not made one single nickel,” said Buoniconti, who is on the board of trustees at the University of Miami and a Knight Commission member. “They put many, many millions of dollars in the coffers of the universities, and yet no one is willing to go out for them and protect them. I just think it’s time for the NCAA to review what their purpose in life is.”

Fantasy leagues, which have long been synonymous with pro sports, have started to invade college turf. CBS Sports announced this year it would revamp its college fantasy game by using names and stats of individual players.

The NCAA’s response was to send a letter asking that the practice be stopped. CBS Sports responded by citing a recent U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that said fantasy leagues’ use of such information is protected by the right of free speech.

“It is clear in my mind that an athlete owns his own likeness and image and everything that goes along with it,” Buoniconti, who played at Notre Dame, said. “They basically came in lukewarm by just sending a letter, not taking the position that we are going to litigate this if we have to. It doesn’t make any sense. It’s really hypocritical.”

NCAA vice president Wally Renfro had already agreed with Buoniconti’s position on fantasy leagues. Renfro said the NCAA feels that use of a college athlete’s name and likeness violates its rules and pushes collegiate sports further down the road toward professionalism, but he said the NCAA can’t take any action unless directed to by its member universities.

Responding specifically to Buoniconti’s outburst, Renfro said: “I appreciate the passion, but I think that no matter how passionate you feel about this, I’ve yet to hear a good argument that the association has the legal standing to do this.”

Then there are those jerseys. Tebow’s actual name might not be on the No. 15 royal blue Gators jersey that’s on sale, but it’s obvious that he’s the one associated with it. Under the NCAA’s rules governing amateurism, he’s not allowed to receive a penny of the proceeds.

None of the witnesses or commission members expressed a desire that student athletes be paid outright. Instead, several suggested the athletes’ earnings could be put in a trust fund that they would receive upon completion of their eligibility. Others said athletes could receive financial incentives for postgraduate work or some other non-monetary benefit while at school.

However, Northwestern president and commission member Henry Bienen pointed out that top athletes already receive tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships, tutoring and other services not available to the general student population. Giving the athletes more, said Bienen, might cause resentment toward athletics to reach the “tipping point” at some schools.