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Review of Head Case: An Agent’s Guide to Protecting their NFL Clients from Concussions and Associated Risks

I know what it feels like to go through the consequences of suffering a concussion.  About half a year ago, I fell and hit my head on concrete, which resulted in a lesion, contusion, and ultimately a concussion.  I suffered severe headaches for a short period of time and was told that I was lucky to be living.  To make matters even worse, I had no sense of smell or taste for over a month and was told that I had less than a 50% chance of ever regaining the senses.  Luckily, my smell and taste have been restored and I am living, breathing, and writing this post.  If the ramifications of falling and hitting my head could be so severe, imagine the type of consequences for football players who take blow after blow to their skull and are prone to endure concussions on the field.

In Head Case: An Agent’s Guide to Protecting their NFL Clients from Concussions and Associated Risks, Shane Meecham makes a claim that it is our responsibility as agents to take acion and protect our football clients from repeated concussions and their potential devastating consequences.  The article will be featured in an upcoming University of Missouri-Kansas City Law Review issue.  Meecham believes that we serve three major roles in assisting our clients: teacher, advocate, and counselor, and breaks down our responsibilities according to each classification.

As a teacher, we have an instrumental role in selecting training for pre-combine performance enhancement, offseason work, etc.  Meecham stresses that an agent look deep into what a trainer is offering in terms of workouts.  Neck strength and flexibility should be a focus during offseason training and also in team workouts.  There is no failproof way of preventing a concussion, though.  Thus, it is also important for us to let out clients know of the possible symptoms following enduring a concussion and that they should be relayed to both the team’s medical staff and ourselves in the case that those symptoms become evident.

It is easiest for an agent to understand that he/she is always an advocate for his/her clients.  Along with consistently building up their worth for potential suitors, agents must take an active role in their clients medical records.  NFL players are allowed to review their medical records in the pre-season and at the end of each regular season.  Meecham believes that agents should do their clients a favor and draft the letter for them, asking that a copy of their medical and training records be sent over (a client’s signature will be necessary before any letter is sent out).

Last, we should all be counselors and put our clients health and well-being ahead of our own self-interests.  Meecham would like us to seriously discuss retirement with any of our clients who have suffered two concussions (especially if those two concussions occurred in the span of a seven-year period).  In fact, I think Shane is one-hundred-percent correct when he states, Developing a reputation as an agent who looks out for her players’ best interests, even at her own expense, will probably economically benefit the agent in the long term.  There are too many stories of people trying to make a quick buck at the expense of true long-term success.  An older agent may see his window of potential high earnings closing, while a younger agent may be able to realize that there will be a lot of time for future wealth accumulation.  No matter what an agent’s age may be, she must be willing to put aside her own lofty goals to ensure that her clients are protected.

Shane Meecham’s article is short and straight to the point.  As a sports agent, we often have to wear various hats.  Our relationship with our clients goes well beyond the three categories of teacher, advocate, and counselor, but in those areas alone, a duty exists to help educate and prepare our clients about the likelihood and symptoms of concussions.  Additionally, we must do everything in our power to increase prevention of athletes suffering concussions altogether.  Following Meecham’s advice, we can all make a difference in our clients health and quality of life well after they step foot off the field of play.

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.

2 replies on “Review of Head Case: An Agent’s Guide to Protecting their NFL Clients from Concussions and Associated Risks”

Darren, you’re absolutely right; there are so many stories of football players that are advised to retired as a result of these injuries. Especially with the studies showing the post traumatic brain injury that can occur as a result. Take Steve Young for instance, he was forced to retire after suffering a staggering seven concussions (four of which occurred in a three year span)

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