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NFL Holdout Fine Increased

As reported on July 24th, the NFL and the NFLPA have agreed to increase the daily fine for holding out of training camp from $5,000 to $14,000 [Fine line: Increased amoung might limit NFL holdouts]. This increase definitely gives NFL teams even more leverage Locked up, they won't give me moreover its players, and perhaps way too much. Sports Agents must now reconsider holding their clients out of training camp for any number of days with such a hefty fine as a consequence. The good part about the increase is that it will curb holdouts, allowing teams to be more prepared going into preseason, and allow for more unity among team players.

But what about the fact that NFL teams refuse to sign no-cut contracts with players, providing no guaranteed money in a player’s base salary? The only bargaining chip that the player’s have had to fight ownership is with a holdout. Even that ability is being stripped away, and the NFLPA is apparently allowing it to happen right before its own eyes. Is this fair to Deion Branch and others who have legitimate claims of being grossly underpaid for their services? At least Jerry Rice will be happy with this decision.

[tags]holdouts, nfl, nflpa, deion branch[/tags]

By Darren Heitner

Darren Heitner created Sports Agent Blog as a New Year's Resolution on December 31, 2005. Originally titled, "I Want To Be A Sports Agent," the website was founded with the intention of causing Heitner to learn more about the profession that he wanted to join, meet reputable individuals in the space and force himself to stay on top of the latest news and trends.

Heitner now runs Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., which is a law firm with many practice areas, including sports law and contract law. Heitner has represented numerous athletes and sports agents as legal counsel. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington from 2011-2014, where he created and taught a course titled, Sport Agency Management, which included subjects ranging from NCAA regulations to athlete agent certification and the rules governing the profession. Heitner serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he teaches a Sports Law class that includes case law surrounding athlete agents and the NCAA rules.