As if sports agents were not already looked at in a shady manner, the San Fransisco Chronicle picks up the slack and hammers into your skull just how ruthless many of my colleagues may be [A TEMPTING BUSINESS].
If you want to see the minority of an industry exposed, which is something that mainstream media loves to do and then package it under an umbrella of “all people within that industry adhere to such practices”, then check out the Chronicle article. You will read stories about DeSean Jackson ducking from agents and Marshawn Lynch being followed to class (maybe it’s just a Berkeley thing?).
At the same time, the article should be taken seriously. There still are despicable violations like agents offering money, Hummers, and houses to rising seniors to lure them in as clients earlier than allowed. But my main beef with the article is that it tries to distinguish those who violate rules from those agents who do not based on age and experience. By doing such a thing, the paper unintentionally puts up a barrier of entry for any newcomer, ethical or not, and recommends the richer to get richer (even if some of the big companies may have employees within acting rather shady).
Another point made by the Chronicle,
Being an agent is a cutthroat business. Even the legitimate ones with long lists of clients badmouth each other with gusto.
But I think times are-a-changing. Personally, through this website and other channels, I have become very friendly with many agents who are supposed to be my “competition”. Many agents that read this site have become friendly with one another as well. By opening up the industry, doing Interviews With The Agents, etc. we can all make the industry seem (at least externally) like it is making strides to become less ruthless.
Take a look at the Chronicle article, check out the big agent violations of the past, and some of the biggest NFLPA licensed agencies that are “running the show” in terms of representation. Leave your thoughts below.
Hat Tip: Money Players
-Darren Heitner
