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Agent Spotlight: Master P.

Where is our friendly neighbor Mr. P?

Yesterday, I read a piece over at NFL Fanhouse that looked into whether or not Larry Johnson will hold out from being involved in any plays with the Kansas City Chiefs until his rookie contract is re-evaluated [So Will Larry Johnson Hold Out?]. He still has three years left on his rookie contract, a contract negotiated on behalf of Johnson by none other than Percy “Master P” Miller. The same Master P. of No Limit Records created a sports agency called No Limit Sports, and Larry Johnson was not the only client of the agency.

What has happened to the legend, the captain of the tank, Master P? The guy started off strong, signing Ricky Williams to a record $8.8 million signing bonus and a $68.4 million overall contract with the New Orleans Saints. Oh wait…that $68.4 million contract was almost entirely based on incentives, and Williams only satisfied one of those incentives, leaving him with a whopping $3.8 million from that original contract [Williams Quits No Limit Sports]. If only Williams had also quit his drug addiction…but I digress.

Louis XV, King of France from 1710-1774 famously said, “Après moi, le déluge” (“After me, the flood”). Ricky Williams, seemed to be a fan of Louis XV. He opened up the flood gates for many other No Limit Sports clients to follow his lead. Soon after Williams left, Ron Mercer (currently with the New Jersey Nets) and Ricky Davis announced that they would be leaving Master P.’s company and that all other clients would probably be gone in no time [Master P Loses Clients]. Maybe it was because Master P. wanted to be an athlete himself, maybe it was because he was terrible at negotiating contracts (Ricky Williams and now Larry Johnson are of note), or maybe it was because he really did not have that big of a tank. No matter which reasoning you prefer to follow, the ending is the same. Master P. lost his clients and his agency ended up having a limit.

-Darren Heitner

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.

One reply on “Agent Spotlight: Master P.”

Nice historical reference. I would argue that his clients just saw his star power and celebrity status and money and were drawn to that rather than examining whether he was qualified or able.

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