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Geno Smith To Switch Agents…Let The Speculation Begin

QB Geno Smith, represented by Select Sports Group, is projected to be a first round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
QB Geno Smith, represented by Select Sports Group, is projected to be a first round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
New York Jets QB Geno Smith was represented by Select Sports Group. He will soon be signing with a new agent. Photo Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft ended only four days ago, yet one player drafted has already decided to part ways with his agent.  Yesterday, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported that former West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, selected by the New York Jets at the beginning of the second round, has officially terminated his Standard Representation Agreement with his agents at Select Sports Group.  Smith must now wait five days (from the date that he terminated the SRA) before he can sign with a new agent.  The five day waiting period is a rule instituted by the NFL Players Association.

Smith went on SiriusXM NFL Radio yesterday and claimed that the firing of his agents had nothing to do with his NFL Draft experience; however, based on the timing of his decision, many find his statement hard to believe.  His agents had set him up at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, a training facility that is highly respected in the industry.  Further, Select Sports Group is no boutique agency.  Other than Smith, Select Sports Group represented a total of seven clients picked in the Draft.  Smith likely believed he deserved to be a first round pick and the first quarterback off the board.  He may be blaming his agents for “only” being a high second round pick.

Let the speculation begin.  Which agent/agency will earn the opportunity to represent Smith, a player with the opportunity to quickly become the starting quarterback in the United States’ darling media market?  Some suggest that Smith will sign with Melvin Bratton.  Bratton, an agent at Vantage Management Group, also represents tight end Travis Kelce from Cincinnati, who was the first pick of the third round, selected by the Kansas City Chiefs.  The agent also happens to be Smith’s cousin.

There is also the possibility that Smith signs with Creative Artists Agency.  The football agency led by agents Tom Condon, Ben Dogra and Jimmy Sexton not only represent a plethora of NFL players, but also college and professional coaches, including Rex Ryan (Smith’s head coach with the Jets).  Further, CAA recently partnered with Jay-Z’s new Roc Nation Sports, which already has ties to the New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz.  That Geno Smith is a hot new quarterback in New York may be appealing to Jay-Z and the Roc Nation brand may concurrently be enticing to Smith.

Then again, maybe David Canter has put himself in the best position to become Geno’s second agent.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/davidcanter/status/329285759284678659″]

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.