ESPN NFL Business Analyst, Andrew Brandt, knows himself some football. Not only was he formerly Vice President of Player Finance and General Counsel of the Green Bay Packers for roughly a decade, he also was a well known football agent at one point in his life. Thus, when he opines about football agency related matters, it is probably worthwhile to pay attention.
Recently, Brandt provided his thoughts on the “Agent Playbook” – the strategies agents use to try to get their clients more money. Here is the script:
1. Express feelings of disappointment about the current contract.
2. Absent a team response, suggest that a trade may be beneficial for both sides.
3. Absent a team response, seek permission to survey teams for a possible trade (which some agents do anyway without permission).
4. Absent a team response, express the possibility and/or probability that the player may skip offseason workouts, minicamps, OTAs and perhaps even training camp, which, of course, would breach his contract.
And then, as Brandt explains, the team has three options:
(1) do nothing; (2) rip up the existing contract and replace it with a new one to the player’s liking; or (3) something in between
So what about a player like Drew Brees? It seems as though his agent has only gotten past step one of the script and that thus far, the Saints are doing nothing. Might the team change its stance once Brees’ agent goes to step two?
One reply on “How Football Agents Get Their Clients More Money”
I think we all know that Brees is set in NO. Albeit with the bounty claims and such it makes it seem that the NFL’s sweetheart would leave but he has to much tied up in the program there in NO. He is the heart and soul of that city and he knows it, without Brees there are no Saints. Both side are waiting for the other to react. The Saint can’t and won’t lose Brees. IMO atleast.